More artists cancel Kennedy Center shows after Trump name change

December 30, 2025

Several musicians have withdrawn from scheduled performances at the Kennedy Center following a controversial board decision to rename the historic venue to include President Donald Trump's name alongside President John F. Kennedy's. Jazz ensemble The Cookers, dance company Doug Varone and Dancers, and folk singer Kristy Lee joined earlier cancellations, citing concerns about artistic freedom and the treatment of American history.

Who is affected

The Cookers (veteran jazz band)
Doug Varone and Dancers (dance company)
Kristy Lee (folk singer)
Chuck Redd (musician who hosted annual Christmas Eve performances since 2006)
Billy Hart (drummer for The Cookers)
Richard Grenell (Kennedy Center president)
Kennedy Center audiences
Members of President John F. Kennedy's family, including Joe Kennedy III
US lawmakers and legal scholars questioning the legality of the name change
The Kennedy Center board and institution itself

What action is being taken

Musicians are cancelling their scheduled performances at the Kennedy Center
Richard Grenell is demanding $1 million in damages from Chuck Redd for his cancellation
The Kennedy Center has added new signage to the building's exterior displaying the new name

Why it matters

This controversy represents a significant clash between politics and the arts at one of America's most prestigious cultural institutions. The Kennedy Center was established as a living memorial to President Kennedy following his assassination and was named by federal law in 1964, making the unilateral renaming legally questionable and symbolically contentious. The situation highlights broader tensions about how historical institutions should be governed, the role of politics in arts venues, and whether artists should perform in spaces that conflict with their values. The cancellations and legal challenges could set precedents for how federally-designated memorials can be modified and the extent to which performing artists can exercise their conscience in choosing venues.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC