Sylvester Stallone, KISS, George Strait and Gloria Gaynor are among the artists being honored at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony on Sunday, December 7, 2025. President Donald Trump will serve as host — the first time a sitting president has taken the stage instead of remaining in an audience box.

Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has focused attention on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, criticizing its programming and appearance as part of a broader denunciation of what he calls “woke” cultural trends.

Trump announced in August 2025 that he would host the event. Speaking at a State Department dinner for the honorees on Saturday, December 6, 2025, he said he accepted the role “at the request of a certain television network” and predicted that the televised special — scheduled to air December 23, 2025, on CBS and Paramount+ — will achieve record ratings.

“It’s going to be something that I believe, and I’m going to make a prediction: this will be the highest-rated show that they’ve ever done,” Trump said, adding that past broadcasts have done well but that he expects an unprecedented audience for this year’s telecast.

Tradition and Change at the Honors

The president’s decision to host marks a departure from recent practice: previous presidents historically watched the ceremony alongside honorees, while guest hosts have included figures such as Walter Cronkite and Stephen Colbert. Trump did not attend the honors during his first term.

Established in 1978, the Kennedy Center Honors recognize individuals whose work has had a lasting impact on American culture. This year’s roster spans genres and mediums: Stallone is honored for his work on films like Rocky and Rambo; Gaynor for the enduring anthem “I Will Survive”; KISS for its theatrical stagecraft; George Strait for his contributions to country music; and Michael Crawford for his award-winning stage career.

The evening is expected to be poignant for KISS following the October 2025 death of original lead guitarist Ace Frehley. Gene Simmons, the band’s co-founder, said on the red carpet that the president had promised an empty chair would be set aside in Frehley’s memory.

Michael Crawford described the honor as “a beautiful honor” and called the recognition “humbling, especially at the end of a career.” Gospel singer Mike Farris, performing for Gaynor, praised her legacy: “She truly did survive. What an iconic song.”

How Trump Reshaped the Institution

Trump has dramatically altered the center’s leadership and governance, removing existing officials and appointing a new board dominated by Republican allies that subsequently elected him chair. He has publicly criticized the institution’s programming and even suggested, in jest, renaming it the “Trump Kennedy Center.” He also secured more than $250 million from Congress for renovations to the building.

Presidential attendance at the honors has sometimes placed leaders and artists of differing politics side by side: Republican Ronald Reagan appeared for playwright Arthur Miller, while Democrat Bill Clinton attended honors for Charlton Heston. Tensions surfaced during Trump’s first term — in 2017, honoree Norman Lear threatened to boycott if Trump attended — a stance that contributed to Trump’s absence from that period’s ceremonies.

Trump has said he took an active role in selecting the 2025 honorees and rejected some recommendations as “too woke.” While Stallone has publicly expressed support for Trump and described him in laudatory terms, the political positions of other honorees are more varied or have been publicly muted.

Honorees’ Reactions and Political Views

Both George Strait and Gloria Gaynor have largely kept their political opinions private; Federal Election Commission filings indicate Gaynor has made donations to Republican causes in recent years. Gene Simmons has expressed mixed views about Trump over time, once endorsing him during the 2016 campaign and later criticizing aspects of his conduct.

KISS bandmate Paul Stanley condemned Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election results and labeled the January 6, 2021, rioters “terrorists.” After Trump’s 2024 victory, Stanley urged reconciliation, writing on social media that both winners and losers should seek understanding and respect for differing perspectives.

Past honorees reflect the diversity of the Kennedy Center’s selections, spanning dance (Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham), theater (Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber), film (Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks) and music (Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell).

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