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Elisabeth Hasselbeck is stepping in to defend Carrie Underwood after the singer's decision to perform at Donald Trump's inauguration sparked criticism from her former The View co-host, Joy Behar.
Hasselbeck, 47, shared her disapproval of Behar's remarks to X (formerly known as Twitter) on Monday, January 14. "That @TheView @JoyVBehar needs to simmer down off my friend @carrieunderwood," the TV personality wrote, which shared a link to her Instagram Story.
She then followed up her post with another Story, sharing a quote from Behar's rant on The View. "JOY – Carrie Underwood is an INCREDIBLE WOMAN. You could learn from her strength," Hasselbeck added in her post, coming to the country star's defense.
The author's comments came after Behar, 82, had criticized Underwood's participation in the event on the show, claiming that by supporting Trump, the singer, 41, was essentially normalizing the former president's controversial actions. "How do you love your country and support and normalize someone who was a convicted felon who really wants to destroy the country, in my opinion?" Behar remarked. "I don't understand how you say you love our country at the same time as you normalize this convicted felon."
Hasselbeck, who worked alongside Behar on The View from 2003 to 2013, wasn't shy about confronting her former colleague. In a subsequent interview on Fox News, Hasselbeck doubled down, emphasizing that Underwood's extensive philanthropic work with the USO and her unwavering patriotism were proof of her love for the country. "Joy Behar wants us to believe that Carrie Underwood is un-American for doing so. It's so ridiculous," Hasselbeck declared.
Hasselbeck also pointed out that The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg had a more moderate stance, agreeing that everyone, including Underwood, had the right to make their own decisions about where to perform.
Underwood explained her decision to sing at the inauguration in a statement to TMZ on Tuesday, January 14: "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. 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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