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A Star-Studded Class: Who’s Being Honored
The 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors in 2025 recognize an eclectic group of culturally influential artists: rock legends, a country icon, a disco trailblazer, a stage and screen star, and a Hollywood action-movie legend. The 2025 honorees are:
- George Strait — country music icon widely considered a “King of Country.”
- Gloria Gaynor — disco and soul singer whose anthem “I Will Survive” remains a cultural touchstone.
- KISS — the iconic rock band known for their theatrical performances and lasting influence on rock music.
- Michael Crawford — acclaimed actor-singer who originated the lead role in The Phantom of the Opera.
- Sylvester Stallone — Hollywood star whose career spans decades and has significantly impacted American film and pop culture.
These five artists represent a broad spectrum of American entertainment — from country to disco to rock, from stage musicals to blockbuster films — reaffirming the Honors’ mission to celebrate lifetime achievement across diverse performing-arts disciplines.
Historic Break from Tradition: New Leadership, New Medals, and a White House Ceremony
A sweeping leadership overhaul
In early 2025, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts underwent dramatic leadership changes. The former president was replaced along with the entire board of trustees. The newly appointed board — loyal to the administration — elected then-President Donald J. Trump as its chair.
This leadership shake-up marks a stark shift in the Center’s governance and mission. For many years, the Honors had functioned under a bipartisan, arts-centered leadership committed to showcasing a wide array of artistic voices. The new leadership signals a recalibration of priorities, with increased political influence over previously independent cultural programming.
A new look for the medals
Also for the first time since the Honors began in 1978, the medallions awarded to the 2025 recipients feature a brand-new design. The prized decorations are now crafted by Tiffany & Co. The updated medallion consists of a gold disc etched with the image of the Kennedy Center building, hung on a navy-blue ribbon, and includes rainbow-colored accents — a nod to the diversity of the performing arts. The reverse side bears the name of each honoree and the date of the ceremony.
This design departure coincides with the leadership upheaval and is viewed by many observers as symbolic of the broader transformation underway at the Foundation.
Medals presented at the White House Oval Office
In another break from precedent, the medals were personally presented by President Trump in a ceremony held at the White House’s Oval Office on December 6, 2025. The decision marks the first time a sitting president has hosted the medal presentation — a role long reserved for arts officials or former heads of state.
Trump hailed the 2025 class as “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned” lineup in the Honors’ history, praising each for their contributions to American culture.
He emphasized his personal involvement in the selection process — stating about “98% involvement” when announcing the class in August — and said he turned down many candidates for being “too woke.”
He also said he will serve as host of the televised Awards show slated to air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ in December.
Why This Year’s Honors Matter — and Why They’re Controversial
A culture-war battleground wrapped in glamour
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors reflect more than lifetime artistic achievement. They highlight a fundamental shift in how the Center defines “American culture.” The new leadership’s selections — and their direct involvement — underscore arts as a terrain of political and cultural influence.
By selecting honorees like icons from rock, disco, country, Broadway, and film — many of whom enjoy broad, mainstream appeal — the Center stakes a claim on “classic” or “mainstream” entertainment rather than experimental, avant-garde, or politically charged art. That decision signals a reorientation toward what leadership deems “safe, unifying” art fit for national acclaim.
The shift in medallion design — and the decision to have the sitting president hand out the medals — further reinforces that message. The Honors, in 2025, are less about arts establishment traditions and more an extension of the current administration’s aesthetic and cultural agenda.
Among the most high-profile honorees ever selected
This year’s class marries deep legacy with widespread name recognition. From the thunderous stage presence of KISS to the timeless country ballads of George Strait; from the disco empowerment of Gloria Gaynor to the heart-stopping drama of Michael Crawford; and the box-office gravitas of Sylvester Stallone — these honorees span decades, genres, and generations.
The selection reflects a carefully curated cross-section of artists whose work has left enduring marks on American popular culture. By honoring such a lineup, the Center amplifies a message about what kinds of art — and which kinds of artists — it prefers to celebrate under its new leadership.
What to Expect Next: Ceremony, Televised Show, and Public Reaction
The live gala for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors is scheduled for December 7 at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C. The ceremony will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+ at a later date, giving the broader public a chance to experience the tributes.
President Trump, having personally hosted the medal presentation, is also slated to host the televised show — making this a departure from the typically low-profile role of former presidents or arts dignitaries.
Expect performances and tributes highlighting the honorees’ most iconic works: hits from KISS, classic Strait country songs, perhaps a nod to the disco heyday with Gaynor, and theatrical flashbacks for Crawford and Stallone. The combination of glamor, political symbolism, and entertainment is sure to generate buzz — and scrutiny — from both fans and critics.
What This Means for the Future of the Kennedy Center
The changes at the Kennedy Center amount to more than a new lineup or refreshed medals. They signify a broader redefinition of the institution’s identity. With political leadership now controlling the Center directly, and the Chair of the Board doubling as President of the United States, the line between cultural institution and political apparatus has blurred.
The 2025 Honors may serve as a template for future years — where selections reflect not just artistic excellence, but ideological alignment, broad appeal, and media-friendly formats.
How artists, audiences, and critics respond could determine whether the Kennedy Center continues to celebrate a diverse spectrum of voices — or narrows its focus to what fits a particular cultural vision. The reception to this year’s gaudy yet politically loaded Honors may shape that trajectory for years to come.
Have thoughts on this year’s 2025 Kennedy Center Honors? Share your take below — and stay tuned for the televised gala later this month.