Carrie Underwood found herself yet again at the center of an online debate this week after short videos of her performance at the John Deere Classic in Illinois circulated on social media, prompting some users to speculate that the country star’s popularity had waned. Furthermore, Underwood’s critics are pointing to her MAGA and Trump associations as the cause for this perceived “falling off,” even going so far as to brand the singer a “full MAGA.”
The clips, which showed Underwood singing on a stage set up along the golf course at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Illinois, were shared with captions suggesting she was performing before only a handful of spectators. Some commenters linked the purportedly small crowd to criticism she faced after appearing at President Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration.
However, local reports indicate that the videos did not capture the full context of the event. Underwood’s appearance was part of the John Deere Classic’s annual “Concerts on the Course” series, a tradition that is included with tournament admission rather than a standalone arena show. The series typically draws thousands of attendees, though weather delays on the holiday weekend may have affected the audience visible in some of the clips.
The renewed scrutiny reflects the continued attention surrounding Underwood’s decision to perform “America the Beautiful” at Trump’s inauguration in January 2025. At the time, she described her participation as an opportunity to honor the country and promote unity. The performance also drew praise after she continued a cappella when technical difficulties interrupted the backing track.
People online are debating Underwood’s politics
For much of her career, it appears Underwood has avoided publicly aligning herself with a political party. In a 2019 interview, she said she preferred to stay out of politics, noting that political labels often fail to capture the complexity of people’s views.
Still, people online have insisted that Underwood is a Trump supporter, with one commenter arguing, “You sing at Trumps inauguration-you are MAGA.” Another commenter even bashed her, joking, “And she even got the MaraLago face – I love this for her.”
Such replies have invited further debate, with others claiming, “First it had nothing to do with MAGA, this is at the end of a golf tournament on the fourth which have had low turn outs for awhile now and it was in Illinois one of your commie run states, not to mention rain.” Underwood fans were quick to point out how the singer still has 7 million followers on one platform alone and a net worth of $120 million.
Despite online claims that her career has slowed, Underwood remains an active live performer. Her previous tours, including the Cry Pretty Tour 360 and the Denim & Rhinestones Tour, drew large arena crowds, and she continues to headline festivals and special events in 2026.
