## Girl Crush or Career Clash? Megan Moroney Responds to the Carrie Underwood Comparisons Country music is a genre built on tradition, but it’s also constantly evolving. Enter Megan Moroney, a rising star whose soulful voice and relatable lyrics are captivating audiences. But with her meteoric rise comes inevitable comparisons, and Moroney recently found herself squarely in the spotlight – being pitted against country queen, Carrie Underwood. Did the comparisons sting? Did Moroney feel threatened? Unpack the buzz with us as we delve into her candid response and explore what it means for the future of female country artists.
The Inauguration Performance: A Moment of Unity Amidst Technical Issues
Carrie Underwood sang “America the Beautiful” after President Trump’s inauguration speech on Monday (Jan. 20). The performance was originally scheduled to take place just before he took the oath of office. Some sort of technical issue forced an awkward one-minute delay, after which Underwood just sang a cappella.
Related: Here’s Why Donald Trump Pulled Carrie Underwood Close After Her Inauguration Performance
A Surprising Unraveling the Mystery of Carrie’s Wink
I watched video of the wink more times than I care to admit and came to a surprising conclusion. But first — is anyone else surprised that Carrie Underwood is a winker? I’ve always tied winking to cute old men or over-confident, kinda cringey young men — the kind who tell the waitress to stick a finger in their coffee to sweeten it up.
Sure, women wink. I bet Betty White used to wink. Brenda Lee seems like the kind of woman who’d wink, too. It takes a certain comedic resume, or at least some established playfulness to pull off a public wink. Carrie is a lot of great things, but no one has ever said she’s “silly.”
That’s why I watched this video so many times — it all just seemed so out of character, until I remembered that Carrie Underwood has winked before.
Flashback to the 2020 CMA Awards: A Pattern of Winking Under Stress
Flashback to the 2020 CMA Awards to find Underwood winking as cameras panned to her for a reaction to losing Entertainer of the Year to Eric Church. At the time, we guessed she was sending a message to someone (maybe even angry fans) that all was well.
This second wink changes everything. Both winks came during moments of stress. Put yourself in her shoes at the inauguration. I’ve always thought she takes an athlete’s mentality to performing, meaning that show time feels like game time. This time, she had to wait, and wait, and wait … Of course, she can’t show her displeasure or irritation, because that’s all anyone would talk about.
So, she rocked back and forth and smiled to everyone in the room. And then, she winked. Someone may have been in her direct line of sight, but I think Carrie was winking for her own comfort. She was letting herself know everything would be fine, and it was. It really was!
Carrie Underwood: A Country Music Icon
From American Idol to Country Music Superstar: A Look Back at Her Journey
Carrie Underwood has been, well, busy since winning Season 4 of American Idol in 2005. Since the confetti fell, the country singer has released nine albums and embarked on seven tours.
What Makes Carrie Underwood a Success Story in Country Music
Over the years she’s become one of the biggest success stories to come out of the show, winning countless awards and amassing a staggering net worth of over $100 million.
- 20 Things Carrie Underwood Has Done Since Winning ‘American Idol’
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Megan Moroney, with her heartfelt honesty and undeniable talent, has gracefully navigated the tricky waters of comparisons with country music royalty like Carrie Underwood. Her message is clear: competition isn’t the focus; crafting genuine music that resonates with listeners is paramount. This conversation highlights the ever-present pressure young artists face in a genre steeped in tradition, where comparisons to established stars are inevitable.
