The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, which recognized artistic legends including Sylvester Stallone, the band Kiss, and Gloria Gaynor, marked a significant break from tradition as President Donald Trump became the first sitting president to host the event from the stage.
The Honorees
This year’s class of inductees were celebrated for their enduring impact on American culture:
- Sylvester Stallone: Honored for his iconic film roles, including “Rocky” and “Rambo.”
- Kiss: Recognized for their distinctive, flashy makeup, pyrotechnics, and influential rock music.
- Gloria Gaynor: Celebrated for her lasting feminist and pop anthem, “I Will Survive.”
- George Strait: Country music superstar.
- Michael Crawford: Tony Award-winning actor.
During the ceremony, Kiss co-founder Gene Simmons noted that an empty chair was reserved in honor of their original lead guitarist, Ace Frehley, who had recently passed away. Honorees, including Stallone and Gaynor, expressed being “incredibly humbled” and that the recognition felt like the “pinnacle” of their careers.
Political Controversy and The New Role of the President
The event was held against a backdrop of political tensions, largely centered on President Trump’s unprecedented involvement and his public attacks on what he terms “woke” culture.
- New Presidential Role: Traditionally, presidents would watch the show alongside the honorees from a box. Trump’s decision to command the stage as host was a major departure from this custom.
- Lack of Preparation: The President admitted he “didn’t really prepare very much” for the hosting gig, stating he simply wanted to “just be myself.”
- Kennedy Center Takeover: The article notes that Trump has dramatically changed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (named after a Democratic predecessor) by ousting its previous leadership and installing Republican supporters on the board, who then elected him chair. He even secured over $250 million from Congress for renovations.
- “Anti-Woke” Selection: Trump claimed he was deeply involved in selecting the honorees and specifically rejected some recommendations for being “too woke.” Stallone, a known supporter, was among the honorees.
- Prior Boycotts: This hosting role is notable given that Trump had skipped the Honors entirely during his first term after honorees, such as producer Norman Lear, threatened to boycott the ceremony if he attended in 2017.
The broadcast of the ceremony was scheduled to air on December 23 on CBS and Paramount.
