From country legend George Strait to rock icons KISS, the president’s first honoree selections under his control signal both a return to tradition and a break from it, amid controversy over his sweeping takeover of the nation’s cultural landmark.
By the Midtown Times Staff, Adapted from Associated Press reporting
WASHINGTON, DC — President Donald Trump has unveiled a high-profile lineup for the Kennedy Center Honors, naming country music legend George Strait, “Rocky” actor Sylvester Stallone, disco icon Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS, and actor-singer Michael Crawford among the honorees. The announcement comes as Trump cements his role as chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and remakes the institution’s leadership in his image.
The Republican president, who skipped the ceremony throughout his first term after public disputes with certain artists, has since returned to the forefront of the cultural event. Earlier this year, he dismissed the Kennedy Center’s board of trustees and installed his own appointees, promising to restore the venue to “luxury, glamour, and entertainment” at the “absolute top level.”
In a Truth Social post, Trump teased a possible rebranding, referring to it as the “Trump/Kennedy Center”, and announced extensive renovations. “It had fallen on hard times, physically, BUT WILL SOON BE MAKING A MAJOR COMEBACK!!!” he wrote.
The Kennedy Center confirmed Trump’s leadership role and credited him for the upcoming renovation plans. On social media, it playfully described the honorees as “a country music icon, an Englishman, a New York City rock band, a dance queen, and a multi-billion dollar actor.”
Traditionally, honorees have been chosen by a bipartisan advisory committee, with recipients ranging from Aretha Franklin to Stephen Sondheim. The Kennedy Center has not confirmed how this year’s selections were made.
Since returning to the office, Trump has pushed for greater control over the center’s programming, pledging to end drag performances, a stance that has triggered pushback from artists. Broadway’s Hamilton canceled its 2026 engagement, while Issa Rae, Rhiannon Giddens, and Louise Penny also withdrew from appearances.
Adding to the political drama, Trump signed a July spending bill amendment to rename the Opera House after First Lady Melania Trump. Another proposal to rename the entire center after him drew criticism from Maria Shriver, niece of President John F. Kennedy, who called the idea “insane.”
First presented in 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors recognize lifetime achievements in the performing arts, marked by a medallion on a rainbow ribbon. However, the center’s rainbow exterior lights have now been replaced by permanent red, white, and blue illumination.
Story by the Midtown Times Staff. Adapted from a report by Jocelyn Noveck and Darlene Superville for the Associated Press.
