Who gets Kennedy Center Honors under Trump? George Strait, Kiss, Michael Crawford being eyed.
Last edited Wed Aug 13, 2025, 08:35 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: Washington Post
WP EXCLUSIVE
Who gets Kennedy Center Honors under Trump? George Strait, Kiss, Michael Crawford being eyed.
The arts complex’s marquee awards ceremony may see significant changes as Trump continues to overhaul the institution he took over in February.
August 12, 2025 at 7:18 p.m. EDTYesterday at 7:18 p.m. EDT
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. (Maansi Srivastava/For The Washington Post)
By Travis M. Andrews
Of the more than 2,000 events that take place each year at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, one looms above all the others: the Kennedy Center Honors. One of the center’s largest fundraisers, the annual black-tie gala and television broadcast is a magnet for A-listers and prominent Washingtonians. Earning the honors can be a major career highlight.
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The Kennedy Center has seriously considered several names to receive this year’s honors, including country music legend George Strait, glam-metal icons Kiss and the English actor Michael Crawford, according to several current and former employees with knowledge of the center’s plans who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss them publicly.
The picks have to agree to receive the prize, and it was unclear which, if any, of these names had made the final list. But on Tuesday the Kennedy Center offered some clues in an Instagram caption: “a country music icon, an Englishman, a New York City Rock band, a dance Queen and a multi-billion dollar Actor walk into the Kennedy Center Opera House….” Trump plans to announce the picks at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday.
The list of potential honorees wouldn’t feel out of place at many honors, which have spotlighted luminaries across artistic disciplines. Strait, for example, would not be the first country star to receive the honors, nor Kiss the first ’70s rock band. At the same time, Trump is known to be a fan of the musical “The Phantom of Opera,” the title role of which was originated by Crawford.
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Comments 479
By Travis M. Andrews
Travis M. Andrews is a feature writer for The Washington Post. He is also the author of "Because He's Jeff Goldblum," a rumination on the enigmatic actor's career and an exploration of fame in the 21st century. He joined The Post in 2016.follow on X@travismandrews
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2025/08/12/kennedy-center-honors-trump/
= new reply since forum marked as read
And, why the hell should PBS even cover it--assuming PBS is still covering ANYTHING? 
Can't remember where I saw it, but someone took and posted a screenshot of Kevin calling out the double story on the Epstein files on X. He asked after Bondi said there were files, then she said there were no files, which was the truth? So apparently he can still spot a contradiction aka a lie.
I wonder if that means he will be X -communicated and off Trump's Kennedy Center Honors dream nominees list? 
President Trump held forth about the nature of show business and his own tortured relationship with celebrity.
President Trump announced the new class of Kennedy Center honorees on Wednesday and revealed that he would host this year’s ceremony. Tierney L. Cross/The New York Times
By Shawn McCreesh
Shawn McCreesh is a White House correspondent. He reported from the Kennedy Center in Washington.
Aug. 13, 2025, 6:54 p.m. ET
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Whatever else he is or has become, Donald J. Trump is at heart a pop culture obsessive. A fame junkie of the highest order. Us Weekly in human form.
That piece of him did not just fade away because he became the leader of a populist political movement and a two-time president. It’s all still wound up in there, as was evidenced by so much of what he said on Wednesday.
“Since 1978, the Kennedy Center honors have been among the most prestigious awards in the performing arts,” he said before a small group of top aides, Kennedy Center employees and a bank of television cameras. “I wanted one. I was never able to get one. It’s true, actually, I would have taken it if they would’ve called me. I waited and waited and waited, and I said to hell with it, I’ll become chairman, and I’ll give myself an honor. Next year we’ll honor Trump, OK?”
That last part was said like a joke, but really, who can be sure? Now that Mr. Trump is empowered as never before, he is scratching all sorts of long-held itches. He wants a military parade on his birthday? He throws one. He wants a Mar-a-Lago-style patio off the Oval Office? He paves over the Rose Garden and builds one. He’s sick and tired of being a pariah in the liberal showbusinessland whence he came? He takes over the Kennedy Center and decides to host an awards ceremony himself.
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Shawn McCreesh is a White House reporter for The Times covering the Trump administration.
