Pop-Culture in Support of Conservatives

Snoop Dogg and Carrie Underwood’s inaugural performances give others the courage to express their beliefs. 

By Madison Fossa

 

EiC’s Note: This is the second article in a new series called “Beyond the Headlines.” In the series, Madison Fossa will discuss easily overlooked changes that have taken place in America since the 2024 presidential election.    

 

Past Celebrity Support for Trump  

Since the 2016 election, supporting  Donald Trump has carried a negative stigma. Supporters of the former and current president have been called racists, homophobes, and even Nazis. While the Republican National Convention has struggled to bring in big Hollywood names and top-rated artists, the Democratic National Convention has attracted star performers from Alicia Keys and Idina Menzel to D.L. Huley and Sarah Silversmith. Many celebrities bite their tongues because of the “cancel culture” surrounding support for the current president, which largely picked up steam in 2020. Not only did support for Trump land celebrities in hot water, but supporting even mildly conservative views publicly also became a risk. Despite these trends over the past few years, the tides seem to be turning in popular culture.  

Some pop culture icons decided to take the risk this fall and support Donald Trump publicly. Throughout the election season, there was a lot of speculation about which stars were backing the returning president, but the situation culminated in January with inaugural activities. Snoop Dogg and Carrie Underwood both performed at parties and ceremonies during the Inauguration.   

 

Headlining Celebrities from the Inauguration  

Snoop Dogg was previously outspoken about his disdain for Trump, saying that anyone who supported the president was a racist. However, in 2021, Trump made a presidential pardon that changed Snoop Dogg’s mind about him. Furthermore, in 2024 Snoop Dogg claimed that Trump “has only done great things for [him].” As a result, Snoop Dogg decided to perform at the Inaugural Crypto Ball. Though not an official Inauguration event, the ball was a party to celebrate the Inauguration, and partially sponsored by the White House.  

Carrie Underwood was the second celebrity that drew attention from the public and media. The country star put on a stunning performance at the Inauguration itself. Because Carrie Underwood is a singer in a predominantly conservative and even Christian genre, her participation in the Inaugural proceedings was less surprising than Snoop Dogg’s. However, Underwood has been seen as an ally of LGBTQ agendas for over a decade, since an interview she gave in 2012, so her participation caused waves in pop culture as well as some hurt feelings from left-leaning fans. 

Though some criticized the participation of these two stars in the 2025 Inauguration, neither Underwood nor Snoop Dogg backed down. Despite the loss of thousands of followers, there were no apologies from either celebrity for their involvement; both defended their positions and spoke out about being unified as a country.  

 

A Growing Movement  

Though Carrie Underwood and Snoop Dogg are only two celebrities, there is a much larger shift happening through the entire music industry and celebrity culture. There were an overwhelming number of high-profile celebrities at the Inauguration this January, but the support doesn’t stop there. The more time that passes since the inauguration, the more evidence there is that support for Trump is becoming more common among celebrities.  

Many celebrities spoke out defending Underwood from the backlash she received; even hosts of The View gave Underwood grace and decided that the decision was “right for her” and something to move past. Furthermore another Country star, John Rich called out silent Trump supporters in his genre, silenced by fear of cultural retaliation.    

 

Implications  

Celebrity endorsements and support for their right-leaning colleagues gives people a feeling of freedom to express their own beliefs. Over the past eight years, there has been too much cancellation, division, and silencing over ideas, beliefs, and party lines. However, if the rich and famous are willing to throw their hats in the ring to support tradition and speak their minds, the end of this silence period may be in sight. Instead of living in fear and mustering up false apologies, celebrities can own their political and moral convictions, pushing the public to do the same.  

Between the popular vote for Donald Trump, unwavering celebrity support, and a shift towards open public discourse on platforms like Facebook, it seems that the reign of cancellation may end soon. It is not just celebrities that have sway over this important cultural moment; it is vital that we as “normal” citizens clearly and respectfully hold to and speak out about our beliefs, so that others have the courage to do the same.    

 

 

About the Author

Madison Fossa is a sophomore at Grove City College, from New Jersey. She is a Trustee Scholar majoring in Biology and minoring in Technical Writing. Madison is an ambassador for Young Women for America, and the Vice President of Young Women for America on campus at Grove City.  

 

 

 

 

READ MORE BY MADISON FOSSA: Beyond the Headlines: Meta and Free Speech

 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed are those of the writer alone and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grove City College, the Institute for Faith and Freedom, or its affiliates.

Cover Image: Photo by René DeAnda on Unsplash

 

Published on February 14.