BREAKING NEWS: American Idol showrunner praises Carrie Underwood’s inauguration performance—’She held her own’.giang

Carrie Underwood‘s inauguration performance hasn’t affected her American Idol gig.

American Idol showrunner Megan Michaels Wolflick spoke to The Wrap in an interview published on Sunday, March 9, defending Underwood’s decision to perform at Donald Trump‘s inauguration inside the Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C. in January.

“That was her decision,” Michaels Wolflick told the publication. “Katy Perry, who was a judge on our show, sang at the last inauguration as well, so isn’t that great that two American Idol judges sang at the last two inaugurations?”

Underwood, 42, who joined the panel of judges for the show’s 23rd season, sang “America the Beautiful” at Trump’s swearing-in ceremony. Meanwhile, Perry, 40, performed “Firework” for the Celebrating America television special honoring then-President Joe Biden in 2021.

Former Idol judge Jennifer Lopez also sang at Biden’s inauguration, performing “America the Beautiful.”

After it was revealed that Underwood was confirmed to perform at the inauguration, she spoke out about her decision. “I love our country and am honored to have been asked to sing at the Inauguration and to be a small part of this historic event,” Underwood said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time.

“I am humbled to answer the call at a time when we must all come together in the spirit of unity and looking to the future.”

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Underwood’s performance experienced technical difficulties, leading her to sing a cappella. She asked the attendees to join in. “You know the words,” she said.

Michaels Wolflick praised Underwood’s handling of the situation. “She held her own, and she remained cool, calm and collected, and I think a lot of that has to do with ‘Idol’ and all of her live experience, starting at a young age, being on live television for Idol,” the showrunner noted.

Elsewhere in her conversation with The Wrap, Michaels Wold spoke about Underwood’s full-circle moment, returning to American Idol as a judge over 20 years after she won the singing competition series in 2004.

“It just made so much sense to put [Carrie] in there, because she was bringing something new to the table that we never had before,” she said. The “Jesus, Take the Wheel” singer joins judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan.

“That firsthand experience is something that any other judge who’s ever been on the show can talk for years about what it’s like to stand on the oval, though they don’t know.

American Idol airs on Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.