Some of Trump's inauguration acts tell their fans: Please don't hate us

• Nelly, Village People, and Carrie Underwood are among acts set to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration.
• They've all faced backlash from fans.
• All three have responded to criticism for accepting the invitation to perform from Trump.

Donald Trump's return to the White House is putting some pop stars in a tricky position: performing for him while placating their fans.

Some of the acts performing at events around his inauguration are squarely in line with MAGA, just like their fans.

A minority, though, are in a less comfortable spot, and released public statements seeking to explain their position.

Carrie Underwood, Village People, and Nelly have released statements defending their decision to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration, saying it shouldn't be mistaken for an endorsement.

Carrie Underwood said she was 'honored' Trump's team asked her to perform

Underwood, who told The Guardian in 2019 that she tried "to stay far out of politics if possible," was among the first performers to be announced for Trump's swearing-in ceremony on Monday.

Underwood told Business Insider via a representative on January 14: "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."

During a 50-minute-long, livestreamed conversation with rapper and YouTuber Willie D about performing at the inauguration, Nelly compared his decision to someone in the military serving a president they did not support.

He is due to appear at the Liberty Ball on Monday.

"I'm not doing this for money. I'm doing this because it's an honor," he said. "I respect the office. It don't matter who is in office the same way that our men and women, our brothers and sisters who protect this country, have to go to war, and have to put their life on the line for whoever in office."

It's unclear what, if anything, acts get paid for performing at such events.

Inaugurations are expensive, with Trump's 2017 committee raising an unprecedented $107 million. Erik Smith, creative director for Barack Obama's 2009 and 2013 inaugurations, told Billboard in 2021 that artists were not paid when he was on the committee.

"You get one hotel room and two tickets," he said.

Nelly argued that the performance wasn't a political act because Trump won the election and is no longer campaigning.

"Performing for somebody and voting for somebody are two different things. Endorsing people is two different things," he said.

Village People said refusing Trump's invitation wouldn't help the group

Village People, whose "Y.M.C.A." has been an inedible part of Trump's campaign rallies for years, are also on the billing.

They've had a see-sawing relationship with Trump's enthusiasm for the track of the track, extending to an (unsuccessful) cease-and-desist letter in 2023.

Then came an about-face. In December 2024, Victor Willis, the writer of the song, said in a Facebook post that he let Trump use it because Trump is a fan.

After they were confirmed as performers for the inauguration, Village People wrote on Facebook on January 13: "Our song Y.M.C.A. is a global anthem that hopefully helps bring the country together after a tumultuous and divided campaign where our preferred candidate lost."

On January 16, Willis wrote on Facebook that the performance wasn't an endorsement and that the band supported Kamala Harris.

"If our preferred candidate (Kamala Harris), had won, Village People would never have been invited to perform at her inauguration. She would have chosen the likes of John Legend and Beyonce, etc," he wrote.

"But now that President Trump has been elected, Village People are suppose to tow the line and say no to an invitation to perform? How does that benefit Village People? It does not. It's simply hatred from one political perspective," he added.

Critics argued it is jarring for Village People, widely associated with LGBTQ+ culture, to perform for a politician who is open about his intentions to roll back trans rights and who was accused of weakening protections for LGBTQ+ people in his first term.

In December, Willis wrote on Facebook that "Y.M.C.A" is not a gay anthem after all — simply a song about the Young Men's Christian Association, like the title and lyrics say.

On January 16, Willis said Trump helped get "Y.M.C.A" back on the Billboard charts. The LGBTQ+ and African American communities had done little to boost them recently, he said.