Trump’s list of Kennedy Center honorees includes film star Sylvester Stallone

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump unveiled a list of individuals who have been nominated for the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors.

The president rhymed off a number of names, with veteran actor and film director Sylvester Stallone being among them. 

Other honorees include Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, and George Strait

According to Newsweek, Stallone is being joined by actor and comedian Michael Crawford, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, along with country music veteran George Strait.

In addition to those individuals, the rock band KISS is also being recognized, a fact which Trump discussed at an event on Wednesday.

Trump: Finally we’ll be honoring one of the greatest rock bands of all time: KISS pic.twitter.com/hDsr7xmnU4

— Acyn (@Acyn) August 13, 2025

“We’ll be honoring one of the greatest rock bands of all time–KISS,” the president asserted before recalling how the group was founded in 1973.

Ambassador Richard Grenell says honorees have “left an indelible mark”

A press release put up on the Kennedy Center’s website stated that this year’s honorees are “individuals whose unique artistic contributions have shaped our world.”

“Recipients have each had an impact on the rich tapestry of American life and culture through the performing arts,” it declared.

“Whether in music, dance, theater, opera, motion pictures, or television, each Kennedy Center Honoree has a unique place in the fabric of our nation and their influence has inspired audiences from all walks of life,” it went on to say.

Ambassador Richard Grenell serves as the Kennedy Center’s president, and he recalled in a statement how “[f]or nearly half a century, this tradition has celebrated those whose voices and visions tell our nation’s story and share it with the world.”

What’s more, Grenell praised this year’s honorees for having “left an indelible mark on our history, reminding us that the arts are for everyone.”

Trump named himself as Kennedy Center chairman earlier this year

Newsweek pointed out how the president had a contentious relationship with the Kennedy Center during his first term in office and largely avoided the institution.

However, this year saw Trump appoint himself as Kennedy Center chairman and fire previous board members who were politically hostile to him.

“We are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN,” he said in a Truth Social post. “I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture.”

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