Kennedy Center Honors fete performers, but Trump takes spotlight
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US President Donald Trump, who had a hand in picking the recipients, did not attend Kennedy Center events during his first term.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump solidified his takeover of Washington’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec 7 by hosting its flagship awards programme, mixing politics with a celebration of stars from music and film.
2025’s Kennedy Center Honors, widely seen as the top US recognition for lifetime achievement in the performing arts, feted actor Sylvester Stallone, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, country musician George Strait, Phantom Of The Opera star Michael Crawford and rock band KISS.
Mr Trump, who had a hand in picking the recipients, did not attend Kennedy Center events during his first term. But he has taken a keen interest in the institution during his second, firing its president, installing a new board that made him chair
He told reporters as he arrived for the show that the Kennedy Center is “going to be brought back to life”.
“We are saving the Kennedy Center,” Mr Trump said, with First Lady Melania Trump at his side.
The former real estate developer is putting his stamp on both
The Kennedy Center’s new president, Mr Ric Grenell, who once served as Mr Trump’s ambassador to Germany, is overseeing the performing arts complex’s multi-million-dollar renovation and revamping the organisation’s events, including hosting the World Cup final draw on Dec 12.
Mr Grenell’s tenure has been marked by staff turnover and discontent in the arts community about the centre’s direction.
In the Oval Office on Dec 6, Mr Trump praised 2025’s honorees and gave them newly designed gold medallions with blue ribbons, rather than the rainbow-coloured ribbons used since 1978 to represent the spectrum of performing arts.
“These are among the greatest artists, actors and performers of their generation,” Mr Trump said. “We can hardly imagine the country music phenomenon without its king of country, or the American disco without its first lady, or Broadway without its phantom... or Rock and Roll without its hottest band in the world, and that’s what they are, or Hollywood without one of its greatest visionaries.”
KISS members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss rose to fame in the 1970s with hits such as I Was Made for Lovin’ You and Rock And Roll All Nite.
Country star Strait’s hits include the song Down And Out. Gaynor is known for her disco hit I Will Survive.
English stage actor Crawford originated the lead role in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom Of The Opera, and film star Stallone established himself with movies such as Rocky and Rambo.
The Kennedy Center Honors show will air on the CBS television network on Dec 23. REUTERS
