The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
In Wednesday’s (8/13) Washington Post, Travis M. Andrews and Janay Kingsberry write, “President Donald Trump announced the recipients of the 48th Kennedy Center Honors on Wednesday—the first class of honorees since he took over the arts complex this year—and a major change to the ceremony: He’ll be the host. Speaking from the Hall of Nations, Trump announced the 2025 honorees by unveiling five portraits draped in velvet. The group: glam metal band Kiss, Broadway and West End star Michael Crawford, country music legend George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone and singer Gloria Gaynor…. Before naming the honorees, Trump said he always wanted the honors himself but ‘was never able to get one.’… At a board meeting in March, Trump … suggested offering it to deceased icons and widening the scope to include athletes, business luminaries and politicians. Perhaps the most surprising thing about Trump’s class of honorees is how comfortably it fits with those that came before it. A-list actor? Check. Aging rock band? Check. Broadway star? Check…. Trump said he was ‘very involved’ in selecting the 2025 honorees and turned down names he didn’t approve of…. The ceremony will take place in December and will later be broadcast on CBS.”
