Trump Names 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees Amid Ongoing Institutional Controversy
- Dave McCleary
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recipients, unveiling a star-studded list that comes against the backdrop of sweeping changes and persistent controversy at the nation’s foremost arts institution.
This year’s honorees are disco legend Gloria Gaynor, country music star George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone, British stage performer Michael Crawford and the rock band KISS. The ceremony, scheduled for December in Washington, D.C., will be Trump’s first as the self-appointed chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Trump took direct control of the Kennedy Center earlier this year, replacing much of its leadership with political allies and reshaping its programming. Those moves have prompted pushback from artists and cultural leaders, with some canceling performances in protest. The cast of Hamilton, television producer Shonda Rhimes, and musician Rhiannon Giddens are among those who have withdrawn from events.
The Pride Month concert Love Is Love was staged as a symbolic counterpoint to the center’s new direction. Organizers and participants said the event was intended to reaffirm the values of inclusion and artistic freedom they believe are at risk under the current leadership.
The Kennedy Center Honors have long been considered one of the highest recognitions for lifetime achievement in the arts, typically celebrating a broad range of cultural backgrounds and disciplines. While Trump’s picks this year feature notable diversity in genre and career paths, critics say his broader approach to the institution has narrowed its cultural scope.
The 2025 ceremony will be broadcast nationally, with Trump serving as host — a marked departure from his first term, when he avoided attending the event altogether. Whether his leadership will continue to reshape the Kennedy Center’s role in American arts remains a matter of ongoing debate.
Editor's note: For more context read the article "Past Controversies at the Kennedy Center"
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