How new leadership could affect Kennedy Center Honors recipients

by

It appears that Donald Trump’s outspoken nature could significantly shape the course of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, given his new leadership role. This might influence not only the center’s future but potentially its history as well, such as the Kennedy Center Honors.

Since 1978, these awards have been one of the top national honors bestowed upon performers annually. Every year since then, the executive committee of the Board of Trustees chooses five recipients from suggestions received both from the public and an advisory panel made up of artists themselves. The selection process takes into account artistic greatness and contributions to American culture.

From the outset, musical artists have always been part of the group. The inaugural class included opera singer Marian Anderson, while Bonnie Raitt was inducted last year. Throughout these years, over 50 musicians spanning various genres have been honored for their contributions.

New leadership direction for the Kennedy Center might change who gets honored

Starting with singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra who had successful pop hits, Ray Charles was the first to receive such an honor in a more modern style of music in 1986. Typically since then, one prominent contemporary musician has been among the five honorees each year. Notable figures such as B.B. King, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, and Stevie Wonder have also received recognition at the Kennedy Center.

2008 marked the emergence of hard rock, as members from The Who were acknowledged for their contributions (The Center does not typically recognize deceased artists). This legendary band was the first to receive this honor; since then, five other bands including Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, Earth, Wind & Fire, U2, and the Grateful Dead have also been recognized.

Last week, Donald Trump declared his ambition to lead the Center as its new chairperson. To achieve this goal, he dismissed 18 board members who were appointed by Democrats and introduced fresh faces like Second Lady Usha Vance and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles as replacements. The newly constituted board elected Trump as their chairman, and he pledged to transform the Center into a “remarkable and captivating destination.” Notably, Trump has stated that he has never been to an event hosted by the Center before.

Despite potential changes across all Kennedy Center functions, let’s briefly explore how the new leadership could influence the musicians honored by the Kennedy Center Honors. This effect might manifest itself in three key areas.

In the forthcoming years, the significant effect will be seen in who receives recognition from the Center. Historically, the board of this institution has aimed to remain impartial from political influence, keeping an equal balance between Republicans and Democrats. However, this is no longer so. The current Chairman, President Trump, tends to honor loyalty over party affiliation in his political dealings.

While it might appear unusual, some of the younger artists who back him – such as DaBaby and Kodak Black – Trump has received endorsements from, it’s worth noting that he also has support from more established music figures who may hold his favor. Notably, Kid Rock, Ted Nugent, and country music star Jason Aldean have been outspoken in their backing of him. Jason Aldean boasts a remarkable career with twelve consecutive top ten albums on the Country charts, featuring seven number ones.

Aldean, similar to Kid Rock, played at the recent presidential inauguration. Snoop Dogg, who was vocal in his criticism of Trump during his initial bid for the presidency, shifted his stance during the latest election campaign. Unlike the inauguration, he didn’t perform but did participate in an event preceding it. Over the past few years, he has been a significant cultural figure and could potentially be considered for recognition.

Among the musicians who might benefit most from the new leadership, Kanye West is particularly intriguing. In the past, it seemed unlikely that the unpredictable and contentious rapper would ever perform at the Kennedy Center. However, under the current circumstances, such an appearance is no longer out of the question.

In another perspective, the second method through which Trump might influence the Honors involves the opposite scenario of the first. Could there be artists who have openly criticized him, potentially leading to them receiving less favorable attention, or at least during the following four years?

Surprisingly, even though many artists openly share their political views, this list isn’t as extensive as one might expect. Here’s why: The artists most known for making strong political statements often reside on the outskirts of mainstream culture. Consequently, they might not be considered for such an honor, regardless of who is deciding, like a Kennedy Center board. Could you imagine them honoring a performer like Jello Biafra?

Should Donald Trump harbor resentment towards numerous musicians who protested his unauthorized use of their songs during campaign events, the tally could easily expand. Among them are R.E.M., Celine Dion, The White Stripes, and Neil Young – these are merely a handful of acts that have taken issue with this practice. Some even took legal action to halt it.

While numerous artists were tactful when dealing with sensitive subjects, the Trump campaign tended to avoid direct exchanges in these cases. However, his use of their music implies that he has some appreciation for these artists, even though it’s a delicate matter to assess.

From another perspective, the opposite side of the Kanye West controversy involves Taylor Swift. At this moment, she might be considered too young for significant recognition. While Trump hasn’t been particularly hostile towards her as he has with other pop stars, it seems unlikely that he would support any honor being bestowed upon her.

Another reason why a potential blacklist may not be comprehensive lies in the third, and arguably most subtle, manner that new leadership might influence the Kennedy Center Honors. Notably, many artists who have shown dissatisfaction towards Donald Trump have already been honored.

Previously, the Kennedy Center has chosen to withdraw an honor they bestowed once before – in this instance, it was Bill Cosby who received his award in 1998, only to have it revoked in 2018 following his conviction for sexual assault. It’s worth noting that I don’t know of any other honoree with a criminal record as serious as Cosby’s, but Trump has shown little regard for established precedents.

He might choose to believe that certain artists whose political views contradict his beliefs are not deserving of Kennedy Center honors. With a strong board’s backing, he could revoke their awards, similar to how Cosby’s honors were withdrawn.

This list could feature artists like Cher, Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Bono from U2, and Don Henley of the Eagles. In 2023, Queen Latifah – who hosted the award show in the previous year – has been vocal about her criticism towards Trump. It’s safe to say that Bruce Springsteen, honored in 2009, may face more scrutiny than others due to his strong stance. Few would argue against the significant influence Springsteen has had on American culture over the past five decades, but the rules have changed by 2025.

It’s quite possible that both the Kennedy Center and its esteemed awards may undergo transformations so unprecedented, they seem almost unimaginable in our current context.

Read More

2025-02-13 18:01