Trump Announces Hard Rockers, a Punching Actor and a Country Music Legend As Kennedy Center Honorees
Donald Trump announced the Kennedy Center Honorees Wednesday—and on the list were the hard rock band Kiss, who came to fame in the ‘70s with their pulsing beats and fondness for makeup, and “Rocky” star Sylvester Stallone (who also appeared in many, many other movies besides the boxing franchise). Also receiving nods were singer Gloria Gaynor (“I Will Survive”), country stalwart George Strait (“I Cross My Heart”), and English actor, comedian and singer Michael Crawford, who originated the role of the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, one of the president’s favourite musicals..
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As we've reported extensively, Trump has been keen to place his mark on the Kennedy Center, an institution that he believes has gone hopelessly woke over the years and which has chosen some “radical left lunatics” as honorees in the past.
Unlike his first term, when Trump avoided the ceremony, he has taken a special interest this time around, as he has sezied control of an institution he has called “woke.”
He ousted Joe Biden’s nominees to the Kennedy Center board, ensuring that he would be appointed as the chairman of the institution, a first for a president. He’s also taken a special interest in renovating the center, with the GOP-controlled Congress including $257 million in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to do so. Democrats have pointed out that Trump has sought to zero out funding for the National Endowment for the Arts, which spreads its grants out to arts organizations around the country, yet boosted the Kennedy Center, which has a core audience concentrated around the Beltway.
I was a huge Kiss fan in 7th grade, but I have to admit the thought of them becoming Kennedy Center nominees never crossed my mind.
Meanwhile, the unveiling of the names is usually not a huge deal to the public, but Trump changed all that:
By making the announcement of honorees himself, Trump is taking on the role of producer/showman, elevating the attention to the show, which has been aired on CBS since its origin yet is hardly a ratings blockbuster. His announcement drew coverage across major cable news channels. In the past, the Kennedy Center and CBS have announced the honorees via press release, embargoed to some outlets.
Congratulations to all those honored. Meanwhile, we can’t leave you without this:
So many Hollywood "stars" seem to have gone off the deep end and devoted themselves to far-left causes that regular Americans have no interest in.
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