How Bad Will the Kennedy Center Honors Be- Page 3

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:12pm

communitytheatergal88 said: "apparently Trump will be "hosting" the show...oy"

This has the potential to be one of the most memorable hosting disasters of all time.  While I hate that it will occur at one of the awards shows I've always loved, I do hope he humiliates himself beyond belief on such an important stage.

As far as the honorees, I envisioned much worse.

 

Updated On: 8/13/25 at 12:12 PM

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:15pm

“I’m the president of the United States—are you fools asking me to host?,” he told the board

He’s the fücking chairman of the board, he ‘asked’ himself.

[Mr.Liir]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:15pm

I feel completely the same. It's not that Michael Crawford isn't deserving, but this president has tainted it. I hope he declines. 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:22pm

Mr. Wormwood said: "There's so much that's terrible about all of this but the list of honorees is not as bad as I thought it might be."

Kiss?

Sylvester Stallone?

Michael Crawford for all the things he did that were seen by Americans?

I am not familiar with George Strait, but I get the impression from posts here that his is reasonable.

 

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:22pm

Definitely not as bad as I thought, but I wished there was another non-musician being honored.

[Mr.Liir]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:27pm

I don't think he's in bad shape. I think he's quietly living his life with his wife and running his charity.  He recovered from his illness quite a while ago.

[MezzA101]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:28pm

NYT Update:

President Trump said he would host the Kennedy Center Honors himself in December, as he announced this year’s honorees: the actor Sylvester Stallone, the rock band Kiss, the recording artists George Strait and Gloria Gaynor, and the British actor Michael Crawford. Mr. Trump has been intensely interested in the center, naming himself its chairman and purging its traditionally bipartisan board, and said he rejected prospective honorees he called “wokesters.”

[Dom P]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:34pm

Call_me_jorge said: "“I’m the president of the United States—are you fools asking me to host?,” he told the board

He’s the fücking chairman of the board, he ‘asked’ himself."

As host ,maybe he can open by singing "There is a Sucker born every minute" from Barnum. He feeds them bonafide baloney,with no truth in it"

Updated On: 8/13/25 at 12:34 PM

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:39pm

Yeah, surprisingly not a bad group of nominees at all.

[BorisTomashevsky]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:42pm

MCfan2 said: "WldKingdomHM said: "Please correct me if I’m wrong but hasn’t Michael been out of the public eye for sometime and is in bad shape ?"

As I recall, he started winding down his career a few years ago after a diagnosis of myalgic encephalomyelitis, and is now living the retired life in New Zealand. I suppose it's possible he's not paying attention to what's going on in the U.S. at all."

Yes he’s been living in NZ for almost two decades and seems entirely recovered. 

All the same, the flight from there to DC is a larger commitment than just flying across the Atlantic from the UK, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he decides not to make the trip.

https://www.thecoast.net.nz/news/entertainment/how-new-zealand-saved-michael-crawfords-life/

[ACL2006]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:43pm

MezzA101 said: "NYT Update:

President Trump said he would host the Kennedy Center Honors himself in December, as he announced this year’s honorees: the actor Sylvester Stallone, the rock band Kiss, the recording artists George Strait and Gloria Gaynor, and the British actor Michael Crawford. Mr. Trump has been intensely interested in the center, naming himself its chairman and purging its traditionally bipartisan board, and said he rejected prospective honorees he called “wokesters.”"

Is Gloria Gaynor a MAGA? With Dumpster hosting this nonsense, I can't imagine how bad the things will be.

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:44pm

In his post on Tuesday hyping the new honorees, he wrote: “GREAT Nominees for the TRUMP/KENNEDY CENTER, whoops, I mean, KENNEDY CENTER, AWARDS.”

How much of a “whoops” that actually was remains to be seen. Last month, some Republican lawmakers proposed renaming the Opera House at the Kennedy Center after the first lady, Melania Trump.

Mr. Trump’s post Tuesday promised to bring the Kennedy Center “back to the absolute TOP LEVEL of luxury, glamour, and entertainment.”"

And there we have a perfect display of how the mainstream media chooses to frame things favorably to Trump specifically and Republicans in general. First they place the obvious bait front and center & accept his framing as unquestionably valid and true. Then they treat a wild proposal from a backbencher that'll almost certainly never make it past committee practically as if it were already policy.

[communitytheatergal88]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:47pm

as with everything T, I fear that the show will devolve into all of the artists genuflecting before him, and less focus on the artists themselves.

[BJR]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 12:48pm

How on earth is Michael Crawford a good pick? He has one credit decades ago, wasn't a household name, wasn't a trailblazer. 

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 1:27pm

Crawford's tribute will include a couple Phantom songs (Point of No Return?) and Total Eclipse of the Heart from Dance of the Vampires.

 

I'd also imagine that the rainbow portion of the medallion will be replaced.

Updated On: 8/13/25 at 01:27 PM

[Dom P]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 1:40pm

bwaylyric said: "Crawford's tribute will include a couple Phantom songs (Point of No Return?) and Total Eclipse of the Heart from Dance of the Vampires."

Perhaps he and the host could duet on "Everybody ought to have a Maid" from A Funny Thing....honoring Michael Crawford's turn in the film version.

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 1:42pm

ACL2006 said: "MezzA101 said: "NYT Update:

President Trump said he would host the Kennedy Center Honors himself in December, as he announced this year’s honorees: the actor Sylvester Stallone, the rock band Kiss, the recording artists George Strait and Gloria Gaynor, and the British actor Michael Crawford. Mr. Trump has been intensely interested in the center, naming himself its chairman and purging its traditionally bipartisan board, and said he rejected prospective honorees he called “wokesters.”"

Is Gloria Gaynor a MAGA? With Dumpster hosting this nonsense, I can't imagine how bad the things will be."

He also literally picked a woman who sang two of the biggest gay anthems ever, “I Will Survive” and a cover of “I Am What I Am”.

Yet he didn’t want “wokester” picks. I’m so confused…but if she accepts, you’ll probably never hear those songs at Pride again. The biggest artist betrayal of the queer community since Donna Summer

[SteveSanders]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 1:48pm

Perhaps my recall is incorrect or things have changed under this new regime, but in the past wasn't it the case you had to agree to the honor and being present for all the associated commitments before they announced you?

[Mr.Liir]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 2:03pm

I'm not sure Trump or the board of the Kennedy Center is observing traditional protocol right now. I don't think we can assume these people were notified in advance.

[Tsao5]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 2:07pm

Those picks are not bad at all, except for Crawford. It will be interesting which artists participate in the tribute sections.

I cannot imagine a lot of Broadway folk will want to perform there for the Crawford tribute part. So PLEASE enlist Dean Cain to sing Music of the Night and Scotty Baio to sing It Only Takes a Moment. 

And, IF there is a theater god, it would be fantastic if Trump reprised his tony performance and sang the theme to Green Acres again. He used to have a bit of a sense of humor about himself a while back.  

Gloria Gaynor is in her 80's and a bit conservative. She will be there. And her music, like the Village People's will continue to be part of the gay musical lexicon regardless of a ceremony that will be forgotten soon after.  Who were the honorees 4 years ago. Anyone? Anyone? 9 years ago? See what I mean. 

I DO think this will get high ratings. A lot of people of a certain age will very much want to see these people honored especially KISS. 

[KevinKlawitter]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 2:30pm

Mr.Liir said: "I'm not sure Trump or the board of the Kennedy Center is observing traditional protocol right now. I don't think we can assume these people were notified in advance."

Remember just last week when Trump announced Saquon Barkley was on the Presidential Youth Fitness Council, even though he had already turned down the position?

[DanS3]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 2:44pm

No shade to Gloria Gaynor, but, LOL, she's had one hit that people in the mainstream will recognize.   Someone like Madonna (love her or hate her) makes much more sense.  Or Beyonce?  

Michael Crawford?  What about Nathan Lane? Audra McDonald?

Sylvester Stallone?  What about Tom Cruise?  Harrison Ford? 

And Trump hosting it?  Ugh.  The news is utterly depressing these days.

Updated On: 8/13/25 at 02:44 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 3:05pm

DanS3 said: "No shade to Gloria Gaynor, but, LOL, she's had one hit that people in the mainstream will recognize. Someone like Madonna (love her or hate her) makes much more sense. Or Beyonce?

Michael Crawford? What about Nathan Lane? Audra McDonald?

Sylvester Stallone? What about Tom Cruise? Harrison Ford?

And Trump hosting it? Ugh. The news is utterly depressing these days."

 

The person(s) being "honored" would have to agree to accept (even if they couldn't be there in person).  Do you really think that ANY of the people you are suggesting would agree to cozy up with this administration??

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 3:11pm

quizking101 said: "ACL2006 said: "MezzA101 said: "NYT Update:

President Trump said he would host the Kennedy Center Honors himself in December, as he announced this year’s honorees: the actor Sylvester Stallone, the rock band Kiss, the recording artists George Strait and Gloria Gaynor, and the British actor Michael Crawford. Mr. Trump has been intensely interested in the center, naming himself its chairman and purging its traditionally bipartisan board, and said he rejected prospective honorees he called “wokesters.”"

Is Gloria Gaynor a MAGA? With Dumpster hosting this nonsense, I can't imagine how bad the things will be."

He also literally picked a woman who sang two of the biggest gay anthems ever, “I Will Survive” and a cover of “I Am What I Am”.

Yet he didn’t want “wokester” picks. I’m so confused…but if she accepts, you’ll probably never hear those songs at Pride again. The biggest artist betrayal of the queer community since Donna Summer"

 

Henceforth the "officially recognized" versions of these 2 LGBTQ+ anthems shall be Diana Ross' "I Will Survive and Linda Clifford (or Linda Eder)'s covers of "I Am What I Am".

Let it be written.  Let it be done.

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/13/25 at 3:15pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "Yeah, surprisingly not a bad group of nominees at all."