Trump to Host Kennedy Center Honors for Stallone, Kiss, Signaling New Era for Arts Gala

WASHINGTON – In a move signaling a significant shift for one of the nation's most prestigious cultural events, President Donald Trump announced the 48th class of Kennedy Center Honorees on Wednesday, confirming he will host the traditionally apolitical gala. The 2025 recipients will include actor Sylvester Stallone, the rock band Kiss, disco legend Gloria Gaynor, country music star George Strait, and stage actor Michael Crawford.

The announcement, made during a surprise visit by the President to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, places the White House back at the center of an event from which Trump had distanced himself during his first term. The annual ceremony celebrates artists for their lifetime contributions to American culture and has historically been attended by the sitting U.S. President.

A Diverse Class of Honorees

The 2025 honorees represent a wide spectrum of the entertainment industry.

• Sylvester Stallone: An actor, writer, and director who became a global icon through his roles in the "Rocky" and "Rambo" film franchises, defining the Hollywood action hero for a generation.
• Kiss: The flamboyant, face-painted rock band known for anthems like "Rock and Roll All Nite" and spectacular live performances featuring pyrotechnics and elaborate costumes.
• Gloria Gaynor: A Grammy-winning singer whose defiant 1978 hit "I Will Survive" became a global anthem of resilience and a cornerstone of the disco era.
• George Strait: Known as the "King of Country," Strait is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with a record 60 No. 1 hits.
• Michael Crawford: An acclaimed English actor and singer, beloved for his originating role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera."

In a statement, Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein praised the recipients, saying, "This year's slate represents a symphony of voices and visions that have left an indelible mark on our cultural landscape."

A Presidential Return to the Forefront

President Trump's direct involvement marks a stark contrast to his previous term. The Kennedy Center Honors became a political flashpoint in 2017 when several honorees, including television producer Norman Lear, threatened to boycott the traditional White House reception in protest of the administration's policies.

In response, President Trump and then-First Lady Melania Trump announced they would not attend the gala to "allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction." They skipped the event for the remainder of his first term. The Biden administration later resumed presidential participation.

This year, Trump’s personal announcement and commitment to hosting suggests a deliberate re-engagement with the cultural institution. According to The Washington Post, which first reported the story, the annual production may see "significant changes" under the new arrangement, though specific details have not been released.

The selection of artists like Stallone, a personal friend of the President, and the hard-rock spectacle of Kiss has already generated considerable discussion. It remains to be seen how the broader arts community will react and whether the renewed White House involvement will reshape the tone and focus of the December ceremony.

For now, the announcement places the Kennedy Center Honors at the intersection of culture and politics, with observers watching closely to see how the venerable institution navigates this new chapter. The gala is scheduled to be held on December 7, 2025, and will be broadcast later on CBS.