Key Takeaways
- The 48th Kennedy Center Honors took place at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, with President Trump as the host and chair of the center’s board.
- The honorees included members of the rock band KISS, Gloria Gaynor, Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, and Michael Crawford.
- Trump was closely involved in picking the honorees and broke from tradition by announcing their names in August.
- The presenters and performers at the event stayed away from politics, focusing on personal stories and tributes to the honorees.
- The event featured performances by various artists, including Vince Gill, Elle King, and Cheap Trick.
Introduction to the Kennedy Center Honors
The 48th Kennedy Center Honors was a star-studded event that took place at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The three living members of the rock band KISS, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Eric Singer, walked onto the red carpet, sans makeup and sporting tuxedos instead of their signature spandex. They were joined by other big names in entertainment, including Gloria Gaynor, Sylvester Stallone, George Strait, and Michael Crawford. However, it was President Trump who stole the show, having installed himself as chair of the center’s board and being closely involved in picking the honorees.
The Honorees and Their Tributes
The event featured tributes to each of the honorees, with presenters sharing personal stories and anecdotes about their work and contributions to the entertainment industry. Actor and producer Sylvester Stallone was the first to be honored, with composer Bill Conti performing selections from the score of the movie Rocky. Kurt Russell also shared a humorous story about working with Stallone on Tango and Cash. Meanwhile, Kelsey Grammer led the tribute to Phantom of the Opera star Michael Crawford, praising his incredible talent and dedication to his craft.
Performances and Tributes
The event featured a range of performances, including Vince Gill’s tribute to country superstar George Strait, who is dubbed "The King of Country Music." Grammer also performed, as did Elle King, who paid tribute to disco star Gloria Gaynor with a performance of her hit song "I Will Survive." The rock band Cheap Trick closed out the proceedings with a rendition of "Rock and Roll All Nite," one of KISS’s most iconic songs. Throughout the night, the presenters and performers stayed away from politics, focusing on the honorees and their contributions to the entertainment industry.
Trump’s Involvement and Controversy
Trump’s involvement in the Kennedy Center Honors was a significant departure from tradition. He broke from tradition by announcing the names of the honorees in August and was closely involved in picking them. During the event, he joked about renaming the building the Trump-Kennedy Center and bragged about reinvigorating the center. However, his handling of the center has been the subject of controversy, with Senate Democrats launching an investigation into allegations of "cronyism and corruption" in November. Kennedy Center ambassador Richard Grenell has denied the accusations, but the controversy surrounding Trump’s involvement has cast a shadow over the event.
Conclusion and Broadcast
The 48th Kennedy Center Honors was a celebration of the best in entertainment, with a range of talented performers and honorees. Despite the controversy surrounding Trump’s involvement, the event stayed focused on the tributes and performances, with the presenters and performers avoiding politics and staying true to the spirit of the occasion. The event will be broadcast on CBS on December 23, giving a wider audience the opportunity to enjoy the performances and tributes to the honorees. As the Kennedy Center looks to the future, it will be interesting to see how Trump’s involvement continues to shape the event and the center as a whole.
