Overview
- President Donald Trump awarded the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors medals in an on-camera Oval Office ceremony on Dec. 6 and will host the taped gala airing Dec. 23 on CBS and Paramount+.
- This year’s honorees are Sylvester Stallone, KISS, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait and Michael Crawford, with Ace Frehley’s daughter accepting his medal posthumously.
- The physical award was redesigned and donated by Tiffany & Co., replacing the long-used rainbow sash with a gold medallion on a blue ribbon.
- Trump said he was heavily involved in choosing the recipients and criticized late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s talent; multiple outlets note Kimmel has never hosted the Honors.
- The revamped presentation caps broader changes at the institution, including Trump’s installation as board chair, leadership shake-ups and renovations overseen by Ric Grenell that have drawn scrutiny over politicization.