Additional Coverage:
- General Hospital actress ‘refuses to even look’ at Carrie Underwood after MAGA support (irishstar.com)
Nancy Lee Grahn Skips Kimmel, Citing “Obvious Reasons” for Carrie Underwood Snub
Los Angeles, CA – Veteran actress Nancy Lee Grahn, known for her role on General Hospital, made headlines recently when she publicly declared her refusal to watch Carrie Underwood’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! The country music star, 42, joined fellow American Idol judges Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan on January 23 to promote the upcoming season of the singing competition.
Grahn, 69, took to Threads that evening, posting, “See ya next week @jimmykimmel. I refuse to even look at @carrieunderwood.” The comment quickly garnered significant online attention, prompting Grahn to clarify her stance.
“I LOVE Jimmy Kimmel & watch him every night. I would never ‘slam’ him,” Grahn explained, emphasizing her respect for the late-night host. “I simply said I would watch him next week because I didn’t want to look at Carrie Underwood (for obvious reasons) who was his guest that night,” she added, alluding to Underwood’s performance at former President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2025.
Underwood’s decision to perform at the inauguration has drawn criticism from many, a sentiment that resurfaced with her return to American Idol as a judge. While her initial announcement to rejoin the show, where she first found fame in 2005, was met with excitement, her association with the inauguration has led some viewers to call for a boycott of the reality competition.
Comments on promotional posts for the new season reflect this backlash, with one viewer stating, “Boycotting AI this year, I have watched it from the very beginning. Not going to support it with a Trump supporter as a judge.”
Another added, “Nope. I don’t support anyone who backs Trump.
Byeeeee.” A third commenter declared, “Since Carrie is on the show!
I’m only watching The Voice. #nocarrieMAGAsupporter.”
Underwood, who told People she was “honored” to participate in the inauguration, stated, “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.”
In contrast to Underwood’s participation, Grahn has been an outspoken advocate for her political beliefs. At the 2025 Daytime Emmy Awards, the actress accessorized her outfit with a silver purse emblazoned with “Democracy Dies In Silence.”
During her acceptance speech that evening, she further emphasized her views, stating, “Along with this job comes a literal soap box. Our democracy is worth fighting for.”