Trump Announces 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees

The president reveals the honorees and signals governance changes at the Kennedy Center.

Trump Announces 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees

Washington, D.C. The Kennedy Center announced the honorees for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors during a public event at the opera house. The lineup includes country star George Strait, actor Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone, disco icon Gloria Gaynor, and the rock group KISS. President Trump, visiting the center, said he will host the 48th annual ceremony and described the project as something that will move quickly and be affordable. The center had previewed the announcement in a post on X, highlighting a diverse mix spanning music, theater and pop culture. The Honors ceremony is traditionally broadcast by CBS in December. In recent months the Trump administration has pushed governance changes at the center, including personnel moves and public statements about reform. The ceremony remains a televised national event and a key cultural moment for the nation.

These moves come with both appetite for renewal and questions about political influence over a national cultural institution. Critics worry that taking a heavy hand in leadership could compromise independent programming and donor trust. Supporters argue reform is needed to modernize a historic venue and to attract new audiences. The balance will depend on transparent governance, clear separation between politics and programming, and continued commitment to the arts beyond headlines or anniversaries.

Highlights

The center faces a test of keeping tradition while pursuing renewal.