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Trump Puts Pop Culture Center Stage: Kennedy Center Honors 2025 Embrace Iconic Entertainment — but Where Are the Classical Musicians?
Washington, D.C., August 13, 2025 – In an announcement that has both captivated and alarmed the arts world, President Donald J. Trump has unveiled the 48th Kennedy Center Honors honorees and—breaking with all precedent—declared he will host the ceremony himself.
The 2025 honorees are:
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George Strait, the legendary “King of Country,” known for decades of chart-topping hits, philanthropic work, and a record-breaking career with 60 No. 1 songs and 33 platinum albums.
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Michael Crawford, the original Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, a Tony-winning icon of the Broadway stage.
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Sylvester Stallone, action-movie star and longtime Trump ally, with six decades of box-office success.
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Gloria Gaynor, disco legend whose anthem “I Will Survive” evolved into a cultural touchstone, later earning her a Grammy for gospel in 2020.
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KISS, the glam-rock band noted for their theatrical personas and global record sales.
Trump, who ousted much of the Kennedy Center’s leadership earlier this year and appointed himself chairman, said he was “98% involved” in selecting this year’s roster and assured that candidates deemed “too woke” were turned away. The gala is scheduled for December 7, with a broadcast on CBS and streaming via Paramount+.
A Break from Tradition: Classical Music on the Sidelines
Historically, the Kennedy Center Honors have consistently included at least one classical or fine-arts luminary among the honorees—artists whose contributions span music, opera, ballet, or composition. In the early years, such figures were central to the award’s mission: for instance, the inaugural class included pianist Arthur Rubinstein (1978), composer Aaron Copland and opera pioneer Leontyne Price (1979-1980), conductor Rudolf Serkin (1981), and violinist Isaac Stern (1984)
Even in more recent decades, classical and traditional genres maintained representation: Mikhail Baryshnikov, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti (2000–2001), Itzhak Perlman (2003), Leon Fleisher (2007), and others like Midori (2020) and Justino Díaz (2021)
This year, however, no honoree comes from classical music, opera, composition, ballet, or similar disciplines. That absence signals a pronounced shift toward pop-culture figures—and even that is underscored by Trump's own scherzo-laden tone about revamping the ceremony and bartering out “woke” candidates
This year’s selection underscores that trajectory in full: the absence of a classical musician among the 2025 honourees reflects a broader shift in the Kennedy Center’s focus, signaling a move toward celebrating a wider range of artistic contributions.
Bottom Line
This year’s Kennedy Center Honors, announced and hosted by President Trump, spotlight iconic figures of country, Broadway, disco, rock, and Hollywood—but omit classical music entirely. That’s a striking departure from decades of tradition, signaling a broader realignment of America’s highest arts recognition toward star power over classical distinction.