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Rich expressed admiration for Underwood's choice to perform at the inauguration, highlighting her statement about bringing people together and moving forward as a nation. Her act was widely regarded as a positive gesture amid a polarized political climate. Rich himself became a bigger fan of Underwood after her performance, praising her patriotism and her message of unity.
This segued into an observation about the broader silence of certain country artists on political matters. Rich feels that those who support Trump or hold conservative views should be more outspoken and demonstrate “conviction,” especially given the significance of their political allegiances in recent years.