WASHINGTON, December 30, 2025 – A growing wave of artistic protest is sweeping through the Kennedy Center, as another pair of performances have been canceled due to the venue’s recent rebranding as “The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” The cancellations follow a christmas concert scrapped earlier this month, signaling deepening opposition to the name change among performers.
Artists Boycott Venue Over Controversial Rebranding
The dispute highlights a broader cultural clash surrounding the Kennedy Center’s new direction.
- Cancellations-Jazz group the Cookers canceled New Year’s Eve shows. Doug Varone and Dancers, Kristy Lee also canceled.
- Legal Action-The Kennedy Center seeks damages from a musician who canceled a Christmas concert.
- Artistic Opposition-Numerous artists have severed ties with the venue since the rebranding.
The New York Times reports that the jazz supergroup The Cookers canceled a pair of New Year’s Eve concerts, citing concerns about artistic freedom.Drummer Billy Hart said the name change influenced their decision.
Saxophonist Billy Harper criticized the name change on Facebook, linking it to racism and harm to African American music. He said jazz pioneers would disapprove of performing there.
The Cookers aren’t alone. Doug Varone and Dancers canceled an April appearance, and Kristy Lee scrapped a mid-January show, following jazz musician Chuck Redd’s earlier cancellation.
Kennedy Center president Rick Grenell announced he would seek $1 million in damages from Redd, calling his cancellation a “political stunt.”
Rhiannon Giddens, Ben Folds, Renée Fleming, and a touring production of Hamilton have also distanced themselves from the Kennedy Center.
