Wednesday, December 31, 2025

More Musicians Cancel Kennedy Center Concerts After Board Votes to Add Trump's Name to the Building

Recent cancellations have left the performing arts center in Washington with gaps in programming for Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.

Posted by retort at 03:46 PM | 57 COMMENTS | permalink

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also who goes to the Kennedy center

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-- Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24.bsky.social) Dec 30, 2025 at 12:55 PM

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More fro the cited article ...

... The Cookers, a jazz band that was scheduled to perform Wednesday night, did not cite a specific reason in announcing their decision, but their statement hinted at politics.

"Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice. Some of us have been making this music for many decades, and that history still shapes us," the statement read. "Our hope is that this moment will leave space for reflection, not resentment."

Kristy Lee, who was scheduled to perform Jan. 14, announced her cancellation on Instagram, saying canceling shows hurts, "but losing my integrity would cost me more than any paycheck." ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-31 03:50 PM

The Kennedy Center's interim president, Richard Grenell, who is also a special envoy for Trump, said Monday night in a statement on X that the artists canceling shows "were booked by the previous far left leadership. Their actions prove that the previous team was more concerned about booking far left political activists rather than artists willing to perform for everyone regardless of their political beliefs. Boycotting the Arts to show you support the Arts is a form of derangement syndrome."

..

One of the first musicians to cancel a performance in the wake of the board's vote was jazz musician Chuck Redd, who called off his Christmas Eve concert at the center, where had presided over the annual event for nearly 20 years. Redd told The Associated Press that he was canceling the concert as a result of the name change.

In a letter to Redd, which the Kennedy Center shared with NBC News, Grenell, threatened to sue him for $1 million, calling his decision to back out a "political stunt."

In a statement Saturday, Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi said, "Any artist cancelling their show at the Trump Kennedy Center over political differences isn't courageous or principled"they are selfish, intolerant, and have failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to perform for all people."


Bill Burr would be so proud of Grenell and Daravi.

#2 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-12-31 04:17 PM

Republicans have never supported the Arts, at least not in my lifetime.

In other words, this is all going according to plan.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-12-31 04:17 PM

Republicans have never supported the Arts, at least not in my lifetime.
In other words, this is all going according to plan.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-12-31 04:17 PM | Reply | Flag

Former Democrat Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan were the first ones to abandon their Hollywood brethren during the dreadful AIDS pandemic, weren't they?


#4 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-12-31 04:52 PM

It's going to be a good day when I am able to see the "The Donald Trump and" part of the Kennedy center sign torn down.

January 21st, 2029.

#5 | Posted by Zed at 2025-12-31 06:10 PM

@#5 ... January 21st, 2029. ...

I'm not sure about that.

"I'll give you another $250 million" -- Mavericks owner urges Donald Trump to consider a third presidential term
www.basketballnetwork.net

... Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson publicly called on Donald Trump to run for a third term in 2028 at the White House's Hanukkah celebration. Adelson, the billionaire majority owner of the casino and resort empire Las Vegas Sands Corp., pledged a large sum of money to support that possibility.

"She said, Think about it, I'll give you another $250 million,'" Trump told the crowd in the White House event, per Forbes.

Adelson, who was standing a few feet away, immediately confirmed the conversation: "I will give." ...



#6 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-31 06:20 PM

** A vision of sugar plumbs (or, in this case, dancing bananas) ... **

A projection for the future, starting tomorrow:

The Epstein thing will still be on-going, starting Fridays tens of millions of Americans are going to receive their new healthcare premiums, people will continue to be snatched from the streets of America (Details on your local TV news, sound up, down or muted, same impression - *), the on-going war in Venezuela will get hotter, the buffoons running federal agencies will continue to prove their incompetence, writ large, inflation and rising prices will continue unabated, and ostensible allies will be further insulted and isolated, while economic adversaries will continue to, as they say, Laugh all the way to the bank, while laughing and insulting the Trump right to his face.

Oh, and did I mention that there will be a major national election in less than 11 months?

Happy New Year to most ! ! !

* Thank you to the Trump administration for this in-kind contribution to the Democratic Party and its candidates (oh, and shrimpsizedgenitalsdisguisedbyataco"Dan" too!).

No need to spend a single dime pointing how cruel, yet totally incompetent, is the entire Trump Administration...

Oh, and to all my dear friends on the Reich ** right side of the aisle...

The Happiest of New Years to you and yours

** - in keeping with the Trump's theme of unity this new year.

#7 | Posted by A_Friend at 2025-12-31 06:23 PM

Explains why they traded Luka...

#8 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-12-31 06:26 PM

@#8 ... Explains why they traded Luka. ...

... and a basketball trade of Luka Dončićis relevant here ...

Why?


#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-31 10:25 PM

The Trump cult, and that is clearly what it is, is like the cult that took over Antelope Oregon, only pretending to care about democracy and the rule of law, at its core it has dangerous and corrupt people out to take from the poor to give to...themselves.
So linking a venue long labeled as a John Kennedy effort with the Trump cult can do nothing good for artists, for what the Kennedy Memorial stood for.
It would make for fine public ceremonies if the Dems take over everything in 2028 and all the Trump cult perversions are torn down, as were the Saddam statues.

#10 | Posted by Hughmass at 2026-01-01 08:25 AM

Man, oh man, the long term residency of the great triumvirate of Kid Rock, Lee Greenwood and Carrie Underwood will bust the doors off of the Trump Kennedy Center of Great American Artists who Like Trump. Every resident of DC, Fairfax County and PG and PW counties will be required to attend three times, just because. Audiences will also get to enjoy the timeless humor of Rob Schneider. High school bands, the Liberty University orchestra and the Ringling Brothers Clown Band will headline. Enjoy ...

#11 | Posted by catdog at 2026-01-01 08:59 AM

Everything Trump touches dies.

#12 | Posted by jpw at 2026-01-01 04:06 PM

#12 I was at a book signing for ETTD, and even bought one and and had it personalized by the author for the poster here who went by JeffJ.

I snail mailed it to him,and hoped that it might help him understand the Trump.

Instead, he traipsed off to PWZ and the insane asylum it was ... for a month or two - until it expired of natural and unnatural causes.

I understand some of them have crawled back to the Retort since then.

#13 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-01-01 04:11 PM

I snail mailed it to him,and hoped that it might help him understand the Trump.

Instead, he traipsed off to PWZ and the insane asylum it was ... for a month or two - until it expired of natural and unnatural causes.

I understand some of them have crawled back to the Retort since then.

#13 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-01-01 04:11 PM | Reply | Flag:

Did you now? Well how about that? did you consult with Twoothy prior to him trying to dox a member here? a member her he got wrong? A dentist in Detroit. What a raetard you turned out to be. You doubled down on a poor ole dentist with pipe bombs thinking it was your guy.. you and Twoothy are retarded

Snail mailed? how long have you been posting here? Did you slip and hit your head? Hans, is that you???

#14 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-01-01 08:25 PM

Poor Hans.... cold trailing JeffJ.. This is funny ----.

#15 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-01-01 08:29 PM

Where did JeffJ offend you? LMAO

#16 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-01-01 08:30 PM

JeffJ is a cancer. He literally metastasized to take on a new name.

#17 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 08:40 PM

JeffJ is a cancer. He literally metastasized to take on a new name.

#17 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 08:40 PM | Reply | Flag:

Was that before or after you spread the disease?

#18 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-01-01 08:45 PM

JeffJ is a cancer.

#17 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 08:40 PM | Reply | Flag:

Between you and Clownshack, you two disease vectors killed more people than smallpox..

#19 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-01-01 08:47 PM

#19. It's one of the reasons I almost completely ignore Snoofy. Afraid of contracting a STD from him through the keyboard.

#20 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-01 08:52 PM

Luvsorangeturds wants to play catch the mayonnaise with the patricidal ---------.

#21 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-01-01 09:01 PM

Luvsorangeturds wants to play catch the mayonnaise with the patricidal ---------.

#21 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2026-01-01 09:01 PM | Reply | Flag:

Is that why the van sits outside your home?

#22 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2026-01-01 09:47 PM

Was that before or after you spread the disease?
#18 | Posted by lfthndthrds

He's a coward who chooses to deny his previous existence.
That isn't anything I did.

But it's very on-message for you, to somehow portray him as the victim of liberals.
You guys are all victims of liberals, in your own minds.
It's pathetic.

#23 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 09:51 PM

Between you and Clownshack, you two disease vectors killed more people than smallpox..
#19 | Posted by lfthndthrds

Is that bad?
Is it bad when disease kills off the weak?

You're not vaccinated for COVID, right?
Its' because you're a big strong manly man, right?

You like it when disease kills people.
You loved AIDS.

#24 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 09:54 PM

"We will replace the rigidity of rugged indivualism with the warmth of collectivism." - Zamdani

Now THAT is a disease.

#25 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-01 09:58 PM

FWIW: drudge.com

#26 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-01-01 10:02 PM

Mamdani

#27 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-01 10:05 PM

"We will replace the rigidity of rugged indivualism with the warmth of collectivism."

The word was "frigidity".

#28 | Posted by REDIAL at 2026-01-01 10:10 PM

He's a coward who chooses to deny his previous existence.

Can we not deadname bellringer by calling him jeff? He's changed, okay?

#29 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-01-01 10:21 PM

In case you missed it, bellringer.
I find it mildly ironic that a guy who spends his free time trashing trans people on an anonymous blog...

Hides who he used to be on an anonymous blog. *shrugs*

#30 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-01-01 10:26 PM

Can we not deadname bellringer by calling him jeff? He's changed, okay?

#29 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-01-01 10:21 PM | Reply

That's not what happened. He got banned from here because he refused to stop spreading COVID-19 misinformation and lies when he was told not to by RCADE. He didn't "change"

#31 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2026-01-01 10:32 PM

I meant no disrespect, Laura. Read #30 please.

#32 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-01-01 10:34 PM

"We will replace the rigidity of rugged indivualism with the warmth of collectivism." - Zamdani
Now THAT is a disease.
#25 | Posted by BellRinger

Diseases have names.
What name does this one have, probably The Sin Of Empathy.

#33 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 10:39 PM

Sorry I missed this Alexandrite. My terrible. I apologize

#34 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2026-01-01 10:42 PM

You're not vaccinated for COVID, right?
Its' because you're a big strong manly man, right?
You like it when disease kills people.
You loved AIDS.

#24 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 09:54 PM | Reply | Flag

You're not wrong, unfortunately.

#35 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-01-01 10:43 PM

'We the People' is collectivism; the good kind where it is balanced with individual rights.

www.google.com

Of course, that requires the ability to hold at least two thoughts in one's mind at the same time.

Sorry, Jeffy.

#36 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-01 10:50 PM

" I find it mildly ironic that a guy who spends his free time trashing trans people on an anonymous blog"

I don't trash trans people.

Plus people are individuals. Laura Mohr strikes me as a decent person. Jessica Yaniv strikes me as a POS.

#37 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-01 10:59 PM

"I don't trash trans people."

Sure you do.

You say they're all crazy.

#38 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 11:03 PM

#36. He used the word "replace", Corky.

#39 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-01 11:04 PM

Not crazy, retarded is the word.

#40 | Posted by fortfisher at 2026-01-01 11:06 PM

So what if they're retarded? Retarded people existing neither breaks your bones or picks your pocket. Deal with it.

But for some reason, you can't deal with it.

The reason is you're just a closeted homosexual, and you never pass up a chance to make sure everybody know that's who you are.

#41 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 11:10 PM

Individual rights and collectivism are both built into the Constitution, which is what he's pointing out, Bellboy.

Because collectivism is a bad word to Trumpers... because the Elites have told you it's a bad word.

Which for them, it is... for the rest of us, it's not.

#42 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-01 11:10 PM

#36. He used the word "replace", Corky.
#39 | Posted by BellRinger

Replace.

I guess this is JeffJ's way of letting us know we're going to hear about Great Replacement Theory for the duration of Mamdani's tenure as Mayor.

#43 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 11:12 PM

"We will replace the rigidity of rugged indivualism with the warmth of collectivism."

Why is warm collectivism a bad idea for how a Mayor should govern, compared to frigid rugged individualism?
You don't think a Mayor should build a consensus, build friendships that kind of thing?

I guess it makes sense that a Trump supporter wouldn't value friendship.

#44 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 11:15 PM

"Immigrants and Trans WILL NOT REPLACE US!!"

(Nazi Chanting 101)

I think it's hilarious that Nick Fuentes is now the Republican Party.

#45 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-01 11:16 PM

The guy who ordered the assassination of Charlie Kirk probably should be the leader of the Republican Party.

Hoods are off.

#46 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-01 11:19 PM

" I don't trash trans people."

WTF are you talking about? You posted anti-trans numbers that were 13,000% off, and never retracted and never apologized.

Sheeeet, man you make Vernon's Calculator accurate by comparison.

#47 | Posted by Danforth at 2026-01-01 11:20 PM

There are likely more one-eared three-legged dogs in America than there are trans people.

Both of which are preferable to Trumpers in almost every way.

#48 | Posted by Corky at 2026-01-01 11:30 PM

" I don't trash trans people."

The lack of self awareness is stunning.

#49 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2026-01-01 11:53 PM

"Argh! Stupid trans people! How dare they enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness! Blargh! Where do these stupid trans people think they live, in America? Gargh!"


#50 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-01-02 12:07 AM

" 42 | POSTED BY CORKY AT 2026-01-01 11:10 PM | FLAG: "

"Replace" has a very specific meaning. You want to be a collectivist? Go join a commune. As for the rest of us, no thanks.

Danforth,

I'm done with you trying to play Calvinball. Deal honestly or bugger off.

#51 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-02 03:13 AM

" You posted anti-trans numbers that were 13,000% off"

WTF is an "anti trans" number? That makes zero sense

#52 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-02 03:17 AM

WTF is an "anti trans" number? That makes zero sense

Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-02 03:17 AM | Reply

96

#53 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2026-01-02 03:26 AM

Replace" has a very specific meaning. You want to be a collectivist? Go join a commune. As for the rest of us, no thanks.
Danforth,
I'm done with you trying to play Calvinball. Deal honestly or bugger off.

Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-02 03:13 AM | Reply

We are a collective. WE the people, UNITED states of America. Etc etc etc.

#54 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2026-01-02 03:30 AM

96?

Also, if we are already a collective than what is it Mamdani is proposing being replaced?

#55 | Posted by BellRinger at 2026-01-02 03:43 AM

---- off you pathetic coward

#56 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-01-02 03:44 PM

Also, if we are already a collective than what is it Mamdani is proposing being replaced?
#55 | Posted by BellRinger

People with your attitude not being a part of the government any more.

#57 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-03 01:22 PM

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