Overview
- The 48th Honors special airs Tuesday at 8–10:30 p.m. ET on CBS and streams on Paramount+, featuring the Dec. 7 ceremony from the Kennedy Center Opera House, with Trump saying he was heavily involved in honoree selection.
- This year’s recipients are George Strait, KISS (Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley), Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor and Sylvester Stallone.
- Tributes include appearances and performances from Kurt Russell, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Miranda Lambert, Garth Brooks, Cheap Trick, Kelsey Grammer, Laura Osnes, David Phelps, Elle King and Deniece Williams.
- A Tiffany & Co.–designed medallion debuts this year, replacing the traditional ribbon with a deep blue motif and a gold disc presented at the Dec. 6 medallion ceremony.
- The board’s vote to rename the venue the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center has prompted objections citing congressional authority and a federal lawsuit seeking to block the change.