(NewsNation) — After receiving backlash from the public, Nelly defended his decision to perform at President Trump’s inauguration ball.

Nelly told NewsNation’s “CUOMO” his performance is about “respect.”

“This is not a campaign trail,” Nelly said. “This is not anything that I feel like I’m influencing people to sway how they feel, but it’s more about the respect and the honor of being invited for what I like to call the greatest country on the planet.”

Nelly said “Regardless of the differences we have,” it’s “all about coming together” and being positive. He also said he doesn’t plan to take his shirt off during his performance because “they don’t want to see this dad bod.”

Nelly wasn’t the be the only music star present in Washington, D.C., on Inauguration Day.

Country music phenomenon Carrie Underwood sang “America the Beautiful” at the swearing-in ceremony.

Underwood also faced some backlash for taking the opportunity to sign at Trump’s inauguration, though longtime Trump critic Whoopi Goldberg came to her defense this week.

Nelly, 49, whose birth name is Cornell Haynes II, is a St. Louis native with hits such as “Hot in Herre” and “Just A Dream.” The 49-year-old has had four No. 1 hits and won nine Billboard Music Awards.

He escaped drug charges in November following an arrest at a Missouri casino in August.

Other performers on Inauguration Day include Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, Billy Ray Cyrus, The Village People and Rascal Flatts.