{"id":9104,"date":"2026-01-11T22:26:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-11T22:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/11\/all-the-performers-who-canceled-shows-at-trumps-kennedy-center-usa-today\/"},"modified":"2026-01-11T22:26:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-11T22:26:28","slug":"all-the-performers-who-canceled-shows-at-trumps-kennedy-center-usa-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/2026\/01\/11\/all-the-performers-who-canceled-shows-at-trumps-kennedy-center-usa-today\/","title":{"rendered":"All the performers who canceled shows at Trump&#8217;s Kennedy Center &#8211; USA Today"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Jan. 10, 2026<span>Updated Jan. 11, 2026, 3:15 p.m. ET<\/span><\/p>\n<div xmlns:xlink=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\">\n<p>A year into his second term, President <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/news\/politics\/donald-trump\/\" data-autotag=\"26f031d1-9924-4f10-b4e6-019d076113d5\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">Donald Trump<\/a> is continuing <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2025\/06\/11\/trump-takes-in-les-miserables-kennedy-center\/84147934007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">his aggressive takeover<\/a> of the newly named <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2025\/12\/25\/kennedy-center-christmas-eve-jazz-cancelled-trump\/87913352007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">Trump-Kennedy Center for the Arts.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Beyond adding his own name to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/celebrities\/2026\/01\/02\/stephen-schwartz-trump-kennedy-center-gala\/88000047007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">the storied performance institution<\/a>, formerly known as the Kennedy Center and named after 35th President John F. Kennedy, Trump also installed <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/2025\/04\/10\/richard-grenell-kennedy-center-emails\/83026699007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">Richard Grenell<\/a>, his onetime envoy for special missions, as president of the center. Trump had previously complained about &#8220;woke&#8221; programming and &#8220;drag shows&#8221; performed there.<\/p>\n<p>The changes have been <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/2025\/03\/06\/hamilton-cancels-kennedy-center-shows-trump\/81728352007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">met with resistance<\/a> by some in the art world, who have decried the president&#8217;s rapid changes and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/music\/2026\/01\/09\/bela-fleck-trump-kennedy-center-shows-canceled\/88101668007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">withheld their own performances<\/a> as a form of protest. Here&#8217;s a look at the musicians and creatives who have canceled shows at the Trump-Kennedy Center.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/picture-gallery\/news\/politics\/2025\/12\/19\/kennedy-center-trump-name-photo\/87845711007\/\" data-t-l=\"\u2691g:l|l|c|view gallery:inline promo\" aria-label=\"View Gallery - John F. Kennedy Memorial Center adds Trump to name. See the change\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/12\/19\/USAT\/87845721007-getty-images-2252720813.jpg?crop=4973,2797,x0,y259&#038;width=660&#038;height=372&#038;format=pjpg&#038;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/12\/19\/USAT\/87845721007-getty-images-2252720813.jpg?crop=4973,2797,x0,y259&#038;width=1320&#038;height=744&#038;format=pjpg&#038;auto=webp 2x\" decoding=\"async\" alt width=\"660\" height=\"372\" previous-src=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/12\/19\/USAT\/87845721007-getty-images-2252720813.jpg?crop=4973,2797,x0,y259&#038;width=660&#038;height=372&#038;format=pjpg&#038;auto=webp\"><svg><use xlink:href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/#gnt_svg_camera\" \/><\/svg><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Bela Fleck joins growing list of cancellations<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/music\/2026\/01\/09\/bela-fleck-trump-kennedy-center-shows-canceled\/88101668007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">Nashville banjoist Be\u0301la\u00a0Fleck<\/a> announced in January that he would skip a scheduled performance alongside the National Symphony Orchestra as it had &#8220;become charged and political,&#8221; when &#8220;the focus should be on the music.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/picture-gallery\/entertainment\/tv\/2025\/12\/07\/trump-hosts-kennedy-center-honors-2025-photos\/87658018007\/\" data-t-l=\"\u2691g:l|l|c|view gallery:inline promo\" aria-label=\"View Gallery - See moments from the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors hosted by Trump\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/12\/07\/USAT\/87662137007-2250607898.jpg?crop=5365,3018,x0,y279&#038;width=660&#038;height=372&#038;format=pjpg&#038;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/12\/07\/USAT\/87662137007-2250607898.jpg?crop=5365,3018,x0,y279&#038;width=1320&#038;height=744&#038;format=pjpg&#038;auto=webp 2x\" decoding=\"async\" alt width=\"660\" height=\"372\" previous-src=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/12\/07\/USAT\/87662137007-2250607898.jpg?crop=5365,3018,x0,y279&#038;width=660&#038;height=372&#038;format=pjpg&#038;auto=webp\"><svg><use xlink:href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/#gnt_svg_camera\" \/><\/svg><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Hamilton&#8217; bows out of Trump-Kennedy Center performances: Full list<\/h2>\n<p>Fleck joined a growing class of performers who have refused to participate in events.<\/p>\n<p>Other artists who have canceled or withdrawn include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Issa Rae<\/li>\n<li>Kristy Lee<\/li>\n<li>Wayne Tucker<\/li>\n<li>Brentano Quartet with Hsin-Yun Huang<\/li>\n<li>Magpie<\/li>\n<li>Doug Varone and Dancers<\/li>\n<li>Comedy show &#8220;Asian AF&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Touring production of &#8220;Hamilton&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Chuck Redd<\/li>\n<li>The Cookers<\/li>\n<li>Stephen Schwartz<\/li>\n<li>Rhiannon Giddens<\/li>\n<li>Balu\u0301n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/music\/2025\/05\/08\/les-mis-kennedy-center-cnn-comments\/83516998007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">Cast members<\/a> from a performance of &#8220;Les Mise\u0301rables&#8221;\u00a0also boycotted an event.<\/p>\n<p>Issa Rae also canceled a sold-out show at the venue.<\/p>\n<figure><img fetchpriority=\"high\" data-g-r=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/06\/13\/USAT\/84192976007-20240310-t-000000-z-680431149-hp-1-ek-3-b-011472-rtrmadp-3-awardsoscars.JPG?width=660&#038;height=440&#038;fit=crop&#038;format=pjpg&#038;auto=webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/gcdn\/authoring\/authoring-images\/2025\/06\/13\/USAT\/84192976007-20240310-t-000000-z-680431149-hp-1-ek-3-b-011472-rtrmadp-3-awardsoscars.JPG?width=1320&#038;height=880&#038;fit=crop&#038;format=pjpg&#038;auto=webp 2x\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Issa Rae poses on the red carpet during the Oscars arrivals at the 96th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, U.S., March 10, 2024.\"><\/figure>\n<p>&#8220;Unfortunately, due to what I believe to be an infringement on the values of an institution that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds through all mediums, I&#8217;ve decided to cancel my appearance at this venue,&#8221; Rae wrote in an Instagram post at the time.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/movies\/2025\/11\/19\/no-place-like-home-wicked-new-song\/87342631007\/\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">Wicked<\/a>&#8221; composer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/news\/stephen-schwartz-a-wicked-music-man\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\">Stephen Schwartz<\/a> also <a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/entertainment\/celebrities\/2026\/01\/02\/stephen-schwartz-trump-kennedy-center-gala\/88000047007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">announced in January<\/a> that he had canceled plans to host a gala at the historic institution. The musical theater composer and lyricist told\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsday.com\/entertainment\/theater\/stephen-schwartz-wicked-kennedy-center-kocl9hp0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|z|k|\u2691u\">Newsday<\/a>\u00a0he was invited last February to participate in the Washington National Opera&#8217;s 2026 gala at the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2025\/12\/19\/trump-kennedy-center-signage-name-change\/87845687007\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|\u2691u\">Trump-Kennedy Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But &#8220;it no longer represents the apolitical place for free artistic expression it was founded to be,&#8221; Schwartz said in a statement to Newsday. &#8220;There\u2019s no way I would set foot in it now.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Marc-Andre\u0301 Hamelin&#8217;s recital with Maria Joa\u0303o Pires was also canceled after Pires announced her retirement from performing because of health issues. The cancelation was not related to differences with the administration, Hamelin&#8217;s representative said.<\/p>\n<h2>Shonda Rhimes steps down from board of trustees<\/h2>\n<p>Shonda Rhimes resigned from the center&#8217;s board of trustees while Ben Folds\u00a0and Rene\u0301e Fleming stepped down as artistic advisors.<\/p>\n<p><em>Contributing: Savannah Kuchar, Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, Joey Garrison, Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY<\/em>; <em>Audrey Gibbs, Nashville Tennessean<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jan. 10, 2026Updated Jan. 11, 2026, 3:15 p.m. ET A year into his second term, President Donald Trump is continuing his aggressive takeover of the newly named Trump-Kennedy Center for the Arts. Beyond adding his own name to the storied performance institution, formerly known as the Kennedy Center and named after 35th President John F. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9104","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9104"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9104\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/echo-test\/demo973e36f5\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}