The Kennedy Center Honors will have a startlingly new look this year.
The storied cultural institution, which celebrates great American talents each year, will be hosted not by a musical artist or actor, but by the center’s new chairman: President Donald Trump.
Announcing the honorees for 2025, the president revealed that he had agreed to emcee the event after organizers allegedly begged him to fill the role, arguing he would bring better ratings. The show will air later this year on CBS.
“I’ve been asked to host. I said, ‘I am the President of the United States, are you fools asking me to do that?'” he quipped, before confirming that he had agreed to take the stage, and added that he had been successful in the past when hosting the finales of his reality program “The Apprentice.”
This year’s honorees include a close ally of the president, as well as a disco songstress, a Broadway star and a lauded rock band. Here’s a rundown of who will wear the rainbow stripes in 2025.
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Trump names a new head of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in DC: himself
George Strait, Michael Crawford lead Kennedy Center noms
Trump announced George Strait as the first honoree, joking when an image of the country crooner was displayed that he hoped he still looked that good. Strait is a veteran of the genre known for his vagabond anthems and sweet love songs.
Michael Crawford, who originated the role of the phantom in Broadway’s “Phantom of the Opera,” was the second honoree announced. Trump has not been shy in the past about his love for the production, and revealed in his speech that he had been there the night of Crawford’s 1967 Broadway debut.
“I think he’s one of the greatest talents I’ve ever actually seen,” the president said.
Trump ally Sylvester Stallone scores Kennedy Center award
Sylvester Stallone, the bawdy “Rocky” star who has aligned with the president in recent years, also scored an honor. Calling him a friend, Trump said at first he wasn’t sure whether Stallone would even want to accept the award.
“Some people don’t really want to be honored, they don’t care,” the president said, adding that the “Rambo” star had agreed to the honor and lauding his “phenomenal” wife and family.
Sylvester Stallone calls Trump ‘second George Washington’ and a ‘mythical character’
Gloria Gaynor, KISS round off honoree list
In keeping with the culture that may have dominated the president’s youth, the honoree list included disco star Gloria Gaynor and rock band KISS as the final two names.
Gaynor, who sings “I Will Survive,” is the only woman on the list. She broke out in the late ’70s and early ’80s, bringing powerhouse vocals to the dance themes that dominated the time.
“‘I Will Survive’ is an unbelievable song … it’s one of those few that get better every time you hear it,” Trump said.
KISS, the only multi-member honoree, brought face paint and heavy metal sensibilities to the rock genre in the mid ’70s.
