President Donald Trump has revealed his picks for the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, including country icon George Strait.
Who’s Receiving the Kennedy Center Honors in 2025?
Deadline reports that Trump, 79, has named Strait, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, Kiss and Sylvester Stallone as his picks for the Kennedy Center Honors in 2025.
Previous honorees have been selected by a committee, but according to Deadline, the former self-styled real estate mogul and reality television star was about “about 98 percent involved” in the 2025 selections.
Trump “turned down plenty” of artists under consideration, he says.
“They were too woke. I had a couple of wokesters.”
Why Is George Strait Qualified for the Kennedy Center Honors?
Strait is often referred to as the “King of Country,” and he’s one of the most prominent country artists not only of his generation, but of all time.
His qualifications include:
- 60 No. 1 hits.
- 120 million units sold worldwide.
- 33 RIAA Gold and Platinum albums.
- Career sales of 70 million in the U.S. alone.
Stallone is the star of the Rocky and Rambo franchises, making him one of the most bankable actors of his generation. He’s also a longtime, very public Trump supporter.
Crawford starred in one of Trump’s favorite shows, The Phantom of the Opera, while Kiss singer-bassist Gene Simmons appeared on Celebrity Apprentice while Trump was hosting it.
Trump appeared at the Kennedy Center to unveil each nominee, and he aimed some verbal barbs at Democrats in his remarks, saying, “I shouldn’t make this political, because they made the Academy Awards political and they went down the tubes. So they’ll say ‘Trump made it political,’ but I think if we make it our kind of political, we’ll go up. Okay, let’s see if I’m right about that.”
Who Will Host the Kennedy Center Honors in 2025?
Donald Trump says he intends to host the ceremony himself in 2025.
When Do the Kennedy Center Honors Take Place in 2025?
The Kennedy Center Honors will take place in December of 2025. The exact date is to be announced.
PICS: Garth Brooks Received Kennedy Center Honors
The Kennedy Center Honors recognize those in the performing arts for their lifetime contributions to American culture. In 2020, Garth Brooks was part of an honoree class that also included singer Joan Baez; dancer, choreographer and actor Debbie Allen; violinist Midori and actor Dick Van Dyke, who were celebrated over five days in Washington, DC, in May of 2021, after the annual event was postponed and adjusted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gallery Credit: Angela Stefano
