Country artist Jason Aldean shared that he feels “a little vindicated” after years of supporting former President Donald Trump, following his participation in Trump’s second inauguration.
During an interview with “Fox and Friends,” the 47-year-old singer was enthusiastic about being part of the event, calling the atmosphere “electric” and saying that “everybody’s just excited for this new chapter of where we’re headed.”
“Every time I think I’ve done it all — like I’ve done a lot of different things and I’ve seen a lot of things — this was a whole different ballgame for me,” Aldean admitted.
“So, just a huge honor to be here and to be a part of that night and all the people that were there to support President Trump.”
Jason Aldean playing Try That in a Small Town at the Liberty Ball.
Proud to have Jason and the Aldean family as part time FL residents. #trythatinasmlltown #jasonaldean #countrymusic #LibertyBall pic.twitter.com/L2zqOc7WDo
— FL-Native (@FL_Native21) January 21, 2025
The “Try That In A Small Town” singer also opened up about the backlash he has faced for openly endorsing Trump, noting that it hasn’t always been easy.
“You know, my wife [Brittany Aldean] and I talk about this all the time,” Aldean shared. “It’s like for the last, you know, six years, four years especially, it’s just been … you know, taking a lot of heat for stepping out and kind of telling people how we feel about the state of the country and that regime that had been in office.”
Acknowledging the shifting dynamics, Aldean commented, “And, you know, and so it’s been a little odd at times. But it’s cool to look here this week and see all the celebrities and people that are showing up that didn’t really speak out before.”
According to the country hit-maker, celebrities finally choosing to come out for Trump is “a good thing.”
“You know, I think it just means that hopefully it’s getting everything back on track and people we’re all getting on the same page,” he noted.
Aldean criticized how the media has sugar-coated the state of the country during former President Joe Biden’s term in office.
“I think for the last few years, as much as a lot of the media has tried to make it seem like everything’s been so great, it hasn’t,” Aldean told the outlet.
“A lot of us knew that for a long time. And I think a lot of other people are starting to see it now,” he continued. “To have President Trump back in office, I just think it gives everybody a sense of relief and for a lot of people … to feel like we’re headed in the right direction.”
Aldean was among several performers at Trump’s inauguration celebrations, marking his second term as the 47th President of the United States.
Country superstar Carrie Underwood also took the stage on inauguration day but faced an unexpected technical glitch.
I mean…let’s just have one more conversation about what freaking class act @carrieunderwood was today. Not only did she wing it flawlessly, she invited the crowd, and she didn’t run away with the song or add anything crazy. It was a group project and she sounded like an angel pic.twitter.com/TPY9Oi8qVK
— Kira (@RealKiraDavis) January 20, 2025
During her a cappella performance of “America the Beautiful,” Underwood displayed her professionalism when the instrumental backup failed.
Turning to the guests in the room, she said, “Just sing? I can just sing it” and led the crowd through the song, adding, “You know the words — help me out here.”
Aldean praised Underwood for her quick thinking, stating, “First of all, it’s a hard song to do anyway, and when you’re supposed to be singing to a track and that’s what gives you pitch reference for the song.”
“To not have that, for her to just kinda say, ‘All right, listen, we’ll go.’ That’s a big move and that’s a pro move on her part, so I thought it was great,” he pointed out.
Fellow country star Billy Ray Cyrus also encountered technical difficulties during his performance at Trump’s Liberty Inaugural Ball in Washington, DC.
While performing his hit song with Lil Nas X, “Old Town Road,” Cyrus experienced issues with his guitar, which he noticed mid-performance.
Oh my god!
Billy Ray Cyrus' performance at Donald Trump's inaugural Liberty Ball is an epic disaster.
"Is anyone awake?"
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/LQRNXdE2sq
— Art Candee 🍿🥤 (@ArtCandee) January 21, 2025
“Is my guitar still on? I think they cut me off. I don’t hear my guitar anymore,” he remarked to the audience. “Check. Is anybody awake? I don’t hear it. Do y’all hear this? Where’s everybody at?”
Visibly frustrated, Cyrus asked, “Check. Is anyone back there? Can someone turn my guitar back on? We’re gonna sing a little bit more.”
When the issue persisted, he quipped to the crowd, “Y’all want me to sing more or you just want me to get the hell off the stage? I don’t give a damn.”
Cyrus ultimately abandoned the malfunctioning instrument and encouraged the audience to snap along, launching into an a cappella rendition of his 1992 hit “Achy Breaky Heart.”
Despite the hiccup, Cyrus was in good spirits later, mentioning, “I wouldn’t have missed the honor of playing this event whether my microphone, guitar, and monitors worked or not. I was there because President Donald J. Trump invited me.”
“I had a ball at the Liberty Ball last night and I’ve learned through all these years when the producer says, ‘You’re on,’ you go entertain the folks even if the equipment goes to hell,” he added.
Closing with a lighthearted note, Cyrus added, “I was there for the people and we had a blast. That’s called rock n roll!!!”
Watch Jason Aldean’s full interview on “Fox & Friends” here: