Gloria Gaynor, others nominated for Kennedy Center Honors by Trump

President Donald Trump has named country music legend George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone, and singer Gloria Gaynor as part of the first group of Kennedy Center Honors honorees under his new role as chairman of the institution. He confirmed he will personally host the awards program.

The remaining honorees include the rock band KISS and actor-singer Michael Crawford. Speaking to reporters, Trump claimed he was heavily involved in the nomination process, saying he had “98%” influence over selections and that he had rejected several candidates for being “too woke.”

During his first term, Trump avoided attending the Kennedy Center Honors after some artists refused to participate in protest. Since taking over as the center’s chairman and revamping its board of trustees with loyalists, he has taken a far more active role in the organization’s operations.

In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump hinted at changes to the center — officially the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts — touting a restoration of its former grandeur. “GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS,” he wrote, adding that the venue would be “brought back to the absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment.”

Colorado-based reporting by News4’s Ted Oberg highlighted that Trump had previously criticized the center’s condition, calling it in “tremendous disrepair” during a March visit. The Kennedy Center, for its part, welcomed Trump’s involvement, saying in a social media statement that renovations would restore the building’s “prestige and grandeur” and announcing excitement for the year’s honorees.

The selection process for this year’s honorees has not been publicly clarified. Historically, a bipartisan advisory committee chose recipients, including figures such as George Balanchine, Tom Hanks, Aretha Franklin, and Stephen Sondheim. Requests for details on the current process were not returned by the Kennedy Center press office. On social media, the center teased this year’s lineup: “Coming Soon … A country music icon, an Englishman, a New York City Rock band, a dance Queen and a multi-billion dollar Actor walk into the Kennedy Center Opera House …”

Trump has previously suggested other candidates for Kennedy Center recognition, including Paul Anka and Stallone. The awards, established in 1978, have honored a wide range of artists regardless of political affiliation. Past presidents from both parties traditionally attended the ceremony, even if they disagreed with specific honorees.

During Trump’s first term, a number of artists refused to attend White House events in protest, including Norman Lear, Cher, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and Sally Field. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump consequently skipped the ceremonies throughout his first term.

Since resuming office, Trump has asserted greater control over the Kennedy Center, positioning himself as chairman, reshaping the board, and signaling that he will oversee programming decisions. He has also pledged to limit events featuring performers in drag. This assertive approach has prompted some performers to withdraw from scheduled events, including Hamilton, as well as artists like Issa Rae, Rhiannon Giddens, and author Louise Penny.

Republican lawmakers have proposed renaming the Kennedy Center and its Opera House after Donald and Melania Trump, but sources have told NBC News that such a move would violate the law establishing the institution. Maria Shriver, niece of President John F. Kennedy, has publicly criticized proposals to rename the center, calling the idea “insane.”

Kennedy Center Honors recipients receive a medallion on a rainbow ribbon, reflecting the diversity of performing arts disciplines. In April, the center updated its exterior lighting from the traditional rainbow to a permanent red, white, and blue display, signaling a shift in visual presentation under the current leadership.