Lee Greenwood, the “God Bless the USA” singer, said his friend and bandmate Carrie Underwood “is going to do an amazing job” on Monday despite the hate she's been receiving.
“I pity those people who think they have to reach out to a star like her and overcome some negativity when all you have to do is say, ‘Thank you for performing for our next president,’” he told The Washington Post.
The “American Idol” star was subjected to severe criticism through comments on her Instagram page, which criticized her for her performance for Donald Trump, describing her as “disgraceful,” “traitorous,” and “rebellious Barbie.”
Greenwood, 82, who performed with Underwood at the Country Music Awards, said the haters need to “move on.”
“I mean, he's the next president. Come here. Stop this negative nonsense.”
The Grammy winner will proudly perform his national anthem — which he wrote in 30 minutes in the back of his tour bus in 1983 — right before Trump is sworn into office.
“I will be singing live with the United States Marine Corps Band just moments before Donald Trump is sworn in as president,” Greenwood said in his third inauguration appearance. He sang for Trump in 2017 and for George H.W. Bush in 1989.
This will be different. He said: “There will be greater security because of the attempt on his life.”
Trump invited Greenwood to perform recently while he and his wife, former Miss Tennessee Kimberly Payne, were guests at the Mar-a-Lago resort.
“My wife and I were standing with him at an event backstage and I said to him, 'Are you going to need me in Washington?' He said: Sure.
The California native, who lives in Franklin, Tennessee, has sung at six Republican National Conventions, but said introducing Trump after the then-presidential candidate was nearly killed at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, was the most memorable.
“That was probably the most historic moment for me in all my performances with the Chiefs,” Greenwood said.
“This is the moment when you have to introduce the president to the world again with a bandage on his right ear. I had to keep track of his time, on his watch. He was walking very slowly toward the box.”
Greenwood took his direction from Donald Trump Jr., who was warily scanning the room.
“He was very serious. He was looking at the square. It wasn't a moment of jubilation. It was like: 'Is there anyone else going to shoot my father?'
The country singer has thought about safety on stage.
“I think it's in the back of my mind. I have several people in the Secret Service and ATF that I trust and they give me risk projections. We're naturally well protected,” he said.
“I've been with the military before on a USO tour where I got shot at. So I know what it feels like. But I'm confident and proud to stand up. If President Trump can stand there and not be afraid, then I'm not afraid.”
Greenwood, who also sang as Trump took the stage at his Madison Square Garden rally, described the atmosphere as he approached the arena.
“There are people on every street corner. There were about 60 to 80 people smashed in front of the barricade, and about 400 or 500 people behind them. So I rolled down the window to talk to the cops. There were about 60 people on the corner holding huge Trump flags. And they saw me in The window, and they said, “Greenwood is here!” He remembers that Trump is standing right behind him, and we know!
“We were so thrilled that not only was Madison Square Garden sold out, but there were 100,000 people in the crowd outside just waiting to catch a glimpse of it. I thought New York was going to turn red at that point.”
By being on stage with Trump, Greenwood learned something people may not know about the 47th president.
“He's a big guy. He's like 6'4.” A lot of times, I'll be standing on stage, and out of courtesy, I'll stand up and greet him and then shake his hand. He would reach out and grab me and hug me. “He's strong.”
Greenwood “had no idea” his song would be so popular when he wrote it more than 40 years ago, and he said there has been a “steady rise” in streams and downloads since Trump reintroduced it to the country.
“And President Trump has said before, when he gets on stage, he'll say, 'Well, I hope you made a lot of money from this,'” he added.
“Yes, there is a more significant uptick in the revenue stream. I am happy about that. Thank you, President Trump.”
