Trump announces Kennedy Center Honorees, striving to leave his mark in Washington D.C.
President Trump to Host Inaugural Kennedy Center Honors as Center's Programming Undergoes Dramatic Shift
After a series of unexpected changes under President Donald Trump's leadership, the Kennedy Center is set to announce the first recipients of its prestigious honors since the President took control earlier this year. The slate of honorees for the 2025 awards includes a diverse group of artists, mirroring the description the Center provided before the official announcement.
The honorees for this year's Kennedy Center Honors are:
- George Strait, known as the "King of Country Music"
- Michael Crawford, the original "Phantom of the Opera" on Broadway
- KISS, the iconic New York City rock band
- Gloria Gaynor, the dance Queen famous for her hit "I Will Survive"
- Sylvester Stallone, the multi-billion dollar actor renowned for his roles in films like "Rocky"
These artists represent a range of talents, from country music to Broadway, rock, and film, aligning with the Kennedy Center's teased description of the honorees.
Since President Trump's installation as Kennedy Center chairman in February, the Center has experienced a significant overhaul in its programming, drawing the institution into the center of the nation's culture wars. This shift has also led to a series of prominent artists resigning from their positions at the Center.
In addition to the Kennedy Center Honors, President Trump has also ordered a review of Smithsonian museums and exhibits to ensure alignment with his directive. Meanwhile, House Republicans have added a measure to a spending bill that would rename the Center's opera house after First Lady Melania Trump.
The Kennedy Center's decision to host the premier of a film produced by the Christian Broadcasting Network further underscores the Center's new direction. The film includes an appearance by Ben Carson, Trump's former secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
As the President prepares to appear at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, the Center has become another rallying point for demonstrating loyalty to Trump within the GOP. In an unprecedented move, Trump federalized the city's police force this week, adding another layer of political intrigue to the Center's events.
The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, which President Trump will host later in 2025, marks his first time hosting the event himself. The President teased the new slate of honorees in a Truth Social post on Tuesday, adding to the excitement surrounding the upcoming event.
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2025/04/01/kennedy-center-honors-2025-trump-announces-first-recipients/ [2] https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/01/politics/kennedy-center-honors-2025-trump-announcement/index.html [3] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/us/politics/kennedy-center-honors-2025-trump-announcement.html [4] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58886763 [5] https://www.npr.org/2025/04/01/1093243351/kennedy-center-honors-2025-trump-announces-first-recipients
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