Kiss to be honored at Kennedy Center 2025

Kiss joins a star studded 2025 Kennedy Center Honors lineup alongside other stars.

Kiss Accept Kennedy Center Honor Despite Trump Criticism

Kiss is among the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees, recognized for their lifetime contributions to American culture. The band, consisting of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, will be celebrated in a ceremony alongside George Strait, Michael Crawford, Sylvester Stallone and Gloria Gaynor after the lineup was announced by the Kennedy Center following the president's reveal of honorees. In interviews with TMZ, the musicians expressed gratitude for the recognition, with Paul Stanley saying the honor reflects the band's long legacy and hard work. Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley echoed that sentiment, describing Kiss as a symbol of the American dream and a result of years of effort. Peter Criss kept his remarks simple, saying he feels blessed. The band’s past remarks about Donald Trump provide a political backdrop to the moment, but the ceremony remains a milestone for the honorees.

The decision to honor Kiss while their members have voiced political criticisms highlights how cultural accolades can outlast political disputes. The Kennedy Center has a long history of recognizing artists who shape national culture, even when those figures have courted controversy. This moment invites a broader debate about whether art should be judged separately from a creator’s politics and how fan communities reconcile the two. The mix of a legendary rock act with public political history reflects a larger pattern in how audiences revisit legacy in a polarized era. It also tests whether a lifetime of artistic contribution can stand independently of a leader’s controversies.

Highlights

The ceremony will test how art and politics meet under a shared spotlight.