Fans think Ariana Grande has just ‘shaded’ Carrie Underwood’s inauguration performance on social media.
Taking to the stage after Donald Trump‘s inaugural address as the 47th President of the United States on Monday (January 20), the American Idol winner belted ‘America the Beautiful’ in front of former president Joe Biden and former vice president Kamala Harris.
The 42-year-old country star had to sing the rendition a cappella to the Capitol rotunda due to a technical difficulty with the background track.
Underwood urged when the audio cut out: “If you know the words, help me out here.”
Video footage of the moment shows several others in the audience mouthing the words, including the Armed Forces Chorus and the United States Naval Academy Glee Club.
What have people said about Carrie Underwood’s performance?
Hundreds of people swarmed to social media to praise her for her quick-thinking performance, writing that she ‘pulled that tech fail off like a champ’ and sang ‘flawlessly’ like ‘an angel’.
However, dozens more took to Twitter to slam her isolated vocals, criticizing her performance as ‘pitchy’ and ‘uninspired’, while Ariana Grande has seemingly joined in on subtly shading her.
A viewer wrote on Twitter: “She can’t hide behind tracking vocals and instrumental now. She sounds a mess.” Ouch.
Some also giggled at what appears to be an unamused Harris who stood behind Underwood during the show.
“Kamala behind her is sending me”, another Twitter user wrote, while writer Evan Ross Katz shared a screenshot of the moment to his 390,000 Instagram followers with the caption: “Kamala Harris evoking Coco Montrese (“Girl, find the note”) watching Carrie Underwood at today’s chilling inauguration.”
The drag contestant hilariously made the comment during Phi Phi O’Hara’s a cappella performance on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 2.
And it’s here where Ariana Grande has apparently poked fun at Underwood as despite not actually saying or posting anything, she ‘liked’ Katz’s savage analysis of the performer.
Fans of the Golden Globe nominee have shared the post with Grande’s username visible, writing: “Imagine Ariana basically agreed that ‘you can’t sing’.”
“Ariana Grande is finally in her shade queen era! Ariana ended that Republican fad!” a second rejoiced.
The comments come as Underwood previously faced intense backlash for agreeing to perform at the ceremony.
In a statement, the celeb said: “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event.
“I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”
Meanwhile others have taken the opportunity to reflect on some previous iconic inaugural performances from the likes of Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and fellow American Idol alum Kelly Clarkson.
UNILAD has contacted Grande’s representatives for comment.
