Lee Greenwood defends Carrie Underwood as she draws flak over Trump inauguration performance: 'Move on'

WASHINGTON, DC: Lee Greenwood, best known for his patriotic anthem God Bless the USA', has spoken out in defense of fellow inauguration performer Carrie Underwood, who faced backlash for agreeing to perform at President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, January 20.

Greenwood, 82, who will be performing his iconic song live with the United States Marine Corps band just before Trump is sworn in, shared his thoughts with the New York Post on the unwarranted hate Underwood has been receiving. 

Lee Greenwood defends Carrie Underwood amid backlash

“I pity those people that think they have to reach out to a star like her and run some negativity past her, when all you have to do is say, ‘Thank you for performing for our next president,'” Lee Greenwood remarked about Underwood.

The Grammy-winner 'American Idol' alum has faced a storm of criticism on social media for agreeing to perform at Trump’s inauguration, with many calling her a “sellout,” “disgraceful,” and even “insurrectionist Barbie” on Instagram.

Despite the negativity, Greenwood, who has performed with Underwood at the Country Music Awards, urged her critics to "move on."

“I mean, he is the next president. Come on. Stop this negative crap,” he added.

Greenwood is no stranger to performing at presidential inaugurations. This will be his third time performing at such an event, having previously sung for Trump’s 2017 inauguration and President George HW Bush in 1989.

He also performed at six Republican National Conventions. His 1983 anthem 'God Bless the USA' was famously written in 30 minutes while he was on tour, and has since become synonymous with American patriotism.

Lee Greenwood reflects on heightened security and historic moments performing for Trump

Lee Greenwood is proud of his involvement in the event and has no hesitation about performing for Donald Trump. He’ll sing live just moments before the president-elect is sworn in, a performance that will be particularly significant given the heightened security after the recent threats against Trump.

“There’s going to be a lot more security because of the attempt on his life,” Greenwood shared, recalling the tense moment when Trump was introduced at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, after surviving an assassination attempt.

He called that moment the most “historic” of his performances, describing how Trump, who had been wounded in the attack, made his way to the stage with a bandage on his ear.

Greenwood remembered the somber mood as Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, scanned the crowd for possible threats.

While Greenwood has faced some of his own security concerns while performing for the president, he remains confident in his ability to perform in such an environment.

Greenwood stated, “I’ve been with the military before at a USO tour where I got shot at. So I know what it feels like. But I’m confident and I’m proud to stand up. If President Trump can stand up there and not be afraid, I am not afraid.”

Greenwood, who has also performed at rallies for Trump, explained how the atmosphere surrounding these events is unlike any other. He recalled the moment he arrived at Madison Square Garden for a Trump rally, where the crowd outside was so large that “about 100,000 people... were waiting just to get a look at him.”

While Greenwood is quick to defend Underwood, he also spoke about his pride in his own career. He never expected 'God Bless the USA' to become the anthem it is today. The song has enjoyed a steady increase in popularity, especially after Trump’s association with it during his campaigns.

Greenwood “had no idea” his song would be so famous when he penned it over 40 years ago, and mentioned there’s been a “steady climb” of streams and downloads since Trump reintroduced it to the country.

“And President Trump has said before, when he takes the stage, he’ll say, ‘Well, I hope you’ve made a lot of money from this,'” he said, before adding, “Yes, there is a more critical ascent of a revenue stream. And I’m happy about that. Thank you, President Trump.”