Here’s What Went Wrong at Trump’s Inauguration

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Donald Trump’s inauguration may have been historic, but the performances were memorable for all the wrong reasons. Carrie Underwood and Billy Ray Cyrus battled technical difficulties during their respective sets, making for a chaotic day on one of the world’s biggest stages.

Carrie Underwood’s Silence Saves the Day
Carrie Underwood was set to deliver a stirring rendition of America the Beautiful, but the moment quickly turned awkward when the music failed to play. Underwood, 41, didn’t let the silence stop her—she launched into an a cappella version, rallying the crowd to sing along. Fans called her quick thinking “iconic,” but sources claim Underwood was less than thrilled with the experience.

Reports suggest she felt slighted, comparing her setup to the grand productions of past inauguration performers like Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. Underwood reportedly left the event frustrated without a proper stage or acoustics, but proud she salvaged what could have been a total disaster.

Billy Ray Cyrus Faces His Own Musical Meltdown
If Carrie Underwood’s mishap was awkward, Billy Ray Cyrus’ set at the Liberty Ball was downright cringeworthy. From delayed scheduling to audio issues, the country star’s performance of Old Town Road barely made it out of the gate. At one point, Cyrus could be heard asking the crew if his guitar was even on and quipping to the audience, “Y’all awake?”

The technical problems threw him off completely, as his vocals struggled to cut through the mix. Fans online described the performance as “an epic disaster” and compared his appearance to a mix of Captain Jack Sparrow and Rob Zombie. Despite his visible frustration, Cyrus managed to finish the set with some humour, telling the audience, “When you have technical difficulties, you just gotta keep going.”

A Day to Remember (for All the Wrong Reasons)
Between Carrie’s grace under pressure and Billy Ray’s chaotic energy, Trump’s inauguration left viewers buzzing—and not exactly for the right reasons. While some praised the artists for pushing through, others couldn’t help but cringe at the series of unfortunate events.