President Trump Revitalizes Kennedy Center Honors With Star-Studded, America-First Celebration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Kennedy Center Honors are back and bigger than ever under President Donald J. Trump’s bold new leadership, as Hollywood and music legends prepare to be celebrated at this year’s spectacular December ceremony.

On Wednesday, President Trump announced an all-star lineup of honorees—true American icons who embody excellence in entertainment: country music legend George Strait, Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone, rock pioneers KISS, West End superstar Michael Crawford, and disco queen Gloria Gaynor, whose anthem "I Will Survive" has inspired generations.

TRUMP TAKES CENTER STAGE: A NEW ERA FOR THE KENNEDY CENTER

(President Donald Trump delivers remarks at the Kennedy Center on August 13, 2025, in Washington, D.C. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

As the newly appointed Chairman of the Kennedy Center, President Trump has transformed the institution into a dazzling showcase of American greatness, rejecting the woke decay that has plagued Hollywood’s award shows.

"The 48th Kennedy Center Honorees are outstanding people—incredible talents. In just a few short months since I became Chairman, we’ve completely reversed the decline of this cherished national institution," President Trump declared.

When asked about his role in selecting the honorees, the President was clear: "I was about 98% involved… they all came through me."

He emphasized that only the best made the cut—no woke activists, just true legends. "I turned down plenty—they were too woke. We have great people now. This is very different than it used to be."

TRUMP TAKES AIM AT HOLLYWOOD’S FAILED AWARD SHOWS

President Trump didn’t hold back in contrasting the Kennedy Center Honors with the failing, Trump-obsessed Oscars:

"Look at the Academy Awards—lousy ratings, all woke. All they do is talk about how much they hate Trump, but nobody likes that. They don’t watch anymore."

RECORD-BREAKING INTEREST CRASHES KENNEDY CENTER WEBSITE

The moment President Trump unveiled the honorees, massive public demand overwhelmed the Kennedy Center’s website, forcing visitors into a virtual waiting room.

"We are experiencing high traffic. You are currently in a temporary waiting room," the site displayed, with hundreds of thousands of fans rushing to see the historic announcement.

A TRUMP-LED RENAISSANCE FOR AMERICAN ARTS

President Trump has made it his mission to restore the Kennedy Center to its former glory, telling Fox News Digital:

"The Kennedy Center is coming back. It was not properly taken care of, and we are taking it back. We are going to turn it into something great again."

Insiders reveal that the Trump team is exploring major upgrades, including expanded endowmentsand even discussions about renaming the venue the "Trump-Kennedy Center"—a fitting tribute to its revival under his leadership.

DRAINING THE SWAMP IN THE ARTS

Earlier this year, President Trump cleaned house, firing multiple board members and declaring a new vision for American culture. In a Truth Social post, he vowed:

"Just last year, the Kennedy Center featured drag shows targeting our youth—THIS WILL STOP."

Now, under Trump’s command, the Honors will return to celebrating real talent, not radical agendas.

MELANIA TRUMP TO BE IMMORTALIZED AT THE KENNEDY CENTER

In a move applauded by conservatives, House Republicans have approved renaming the Kennedy Center Opera House in honor of former First Lady Melania Trump—a testament to her grace and contributions to the arts.

THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

With President Trump at the helm, the Kennedy Center Honors will once again be a must-see event, free from woke politics and filled with American excellence.

Fox News’ Brooke Singman and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.