President Trump Spotlights 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees: American Icons in Performing Arts
Today, President Donald J. Trump proudly unveiled the honorees of the 48th Kennedy Center Honors, recognizing an extraordinary group of artists whose talents have shaped American culture and entertained generations. These heroes of arts and culture will be celebrated at the annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala in December.
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees:
George Strait. Beloved by millions, Strait has become known the world over as the unambiguous “King of Country.” Over his extraordinary four-decade career, he has sold more than 120 million records worldwide, amassed 60 number-one hits, and produced 33 platinum-certified albums — more than any other living American. He is the only act in history to have a Top 10 hit every year for more than three decades. Offstage, Strait’s philanthropy has raised tens of millions of dollars for military and children’s causes, including through the Jenifer Strait Memorial Foundation to preserve the memory of his daughter and by presenting 127 mortgage-free homes to wounded veterans through the Military Warriors Support Foundation.
Michael Crawford. An actor, singer, philanthropist, and star of the Broadway stage, Crawford made his Broadway debut in 1967 and became an international sensation for his original portrayal of the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Weber’s The Phantom of the Opera — earning him the esteemed Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Crawford’s generational talent defined one of the greatest Broadway roles of all time.
Sylvester Stallone. A three-time Oscar nominee, Golden Globe Award winner, and action movie icon, Stallone is a legend of the silver screen. From “Rocky” to “Rambo” and “Cobra” to “Creed,” his films have grossed more than $7.5 billion worldwide over the course of his six-decade career. He is a pillar of American pop culture and a Hollywood superstar like no other whose films have inspired audiences worldwide with their portrayals of perseverance and triumph against the odds.
Gloria Gaynor. Among the most revered singers of the American disco era, Gaynor’s chart-topping 1978 hit “I Will Survive” earned her the 1980 Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording — with her song inducted into the National Recording Registry in 2016. Four decades later, Gloria won a second Grammy in 2020 for her gospel album “Testimony” — a historic achievement.
KISS. Among the greatest rock bands of all time, KISS was formed in New York City in 1973 by founding members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss. The band would go on to become a global phenomenon, selling more than 100 million records worldwide, producing 30 gold albums — the most ever by an American band — and earning an induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
