President Trump stands in the presidential box as he tours the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on March 17.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
The Kennedy Center Honors, a hub of glitz and glamour, has always brought Hollywood to Washington, D.C., with its star-studded annual gala. The event sees a parade of celebrities honoring their peers with memorable performances and heartfelt tributes. Highlights from past ceremonies include Beyoncé performing for Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin singing for Carole King.
This year’s honorees are Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, the rock band KISS, Gloria Gaynor, and Michael Crawford, with the event set to air on CBS and Paramount+ on December 23.
However, recent months have brought significant changes to the Kennedy Center, starting with President Trump’s unexpected removal of key figures such as the Kennedy Center president and board chair in February. These shake-ups have raised questions about the future of the Honors.
The Selection Process
Traditionally, honorees were decided through a collaborative process involving the Kennedy Center’s board and past honorees. This year, President Trump indicated he played a major role, claiming he was “about 98%” involved in the selection. Diverging from previous practices, Trump personally announced the honorees in an August press conference.
The Host
Hosting duties at the Kennedy Center Honors have previously been fulfilled by figures such as Walter Cronkite and Queen Latifah. This year, President Trump will take on the role, stating at the press conference, “I used to host The Apprentice finales and we did rather well with that. So I think we’re going to do very well because we have some great honorees.”
The Iconic Rainbow Medallion is No More
Since 1978, honorees have been awarded a distinctive rainbow-hued medallion. This year marks a departure from tradition as Tiffany & Co. has designed a new version featuring a blue ribbon, with rainbow accents on the medallion itself, as detailed by The Washington Post.
Who Will Show?
The names of performers who will honor this year’s recipients remain shrouded in mystery, maintaining the tradition of surprise. However, recent upheavals have led to speculation about who will attend. Notably, former honoree Herbie Hancock will not be present due to touring commitments. Meanwhile, President Trump’s remarks on ending “woke political programming” might influence some artists’ decisions on attending.
