Latest news with #Honors
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The family who made Kennedy Center medals at their kitchen countertop have been dropped by Trump as he eyes new Tiffany design
A Washington-area family that has handmade the Kennedy Center honorees' signature rainbow-and-gold medallions for nearly five decades has reportedly been cut loose, the latest change in President Donald Trump's ongoing reshaping of the nation's flagship public arts institution. James and Mila Baturin have been making the medals, which were designed by New York artist Ivan Chermayeff, since the first Kennedy Center Honors ceremony was held in 1978. Since then, the center's distinctive awards pieces, featuring three gold-plated medallions on a rainbow ribbon necklace, have largely been assembled by hand on the family's kitchen countertop in Bethesda, Maryland. However, they learned earlier this month that the Kennedy Center would no longer be working with them, as the arts center reportedly has contacted jeweler Tiffany & Co. about designing a new medal. 'As the Kennedy Center looks toward the future and embarks on a new chapter, we will be transitioning to a new partnership for the creation of the Honors medallions,' reads a letter, dated Aug. 6, seen by The Washington Post. 'We suspected something would happen as soon as the president decided he was going to take over the Kennedy Center,' Baturin told the paper. The Independent has contacted the Kennedy Center and Tiffany for comment. President Trump announced the latest crop of Kennedy Center honorees earlier this week, naming '70s rock band KISS, country legend George Strait, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, actor Sylvester Stallone, and British actor Michael Crawford. They will be celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors award ceremony in December, hosted by none other than Donald Trump. In February, Trump bucked decades of bipartisanship at the public-private arts institution and pushed out presidentially appointed trustees from the Biden era. The new board then took the unusual step of voting Trump as its chair. Since the takeover, Trump has vowed to eliminate 'woke' content from the Kennedy Center, and has been met with some boos and boycotts from audience members and performers. The president's Republican allies, meanwhile, have proposed a bill that would rename the Kennedy Center the Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts. Announcing the honorees this week, the president said he was personally involved in the selection and vetoed "a couple of wokesters" proposed by the Kennedy Center board. Staff were reportedly caught off guard by the decision, and Kennedy Center Honors executive produce Matthew Winer announced his resignation this week. The Kennedy Center isn't the only major Washington public institution getting a Trump makeover. The White House is reportedly planning a sweeping review of the Smithsonian Institution, home to many of the nation's premier historical and cultural museums, to ensure everything from exhibits to operations are in line with the president's interpretation of history ahead of upcoming celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S.
The Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The family who made Kennedy Center medals at their kitchen countertop have been dropped by Trump as he eyes new Tiffany design
A Washington-area family that has handmade the Kennedy Center honorees' signature rainbow-and-gold medallions for nearly five decades has reportedly been cut loose, the latest change in President Donald Trump 's ongoing reshaping of the nation's flagship public arts institution. James and Mila Baturin have been making the medals, which were designed by New York artist Ivan Chermayeff, since the first Kennedy Center Honors ceremony was held in 1978. Since then, the center 's distinctive awards pieces, featuring three gold-plated medallions on a rainbow ribbon necklace, have largely been assembled by hand on the family's kitchen countertop in Bethesda, Maryland. However, they learned earlier this month that the Kennedy Center would no longer be working with them, as the arts center reportedly has contacted jeweler Tiffany & Co. about designing a new medal. 'As the Kennedy Center looks toward the future and embarks on a new chapter, we will be transitioning to a new partnership for the creation of the Honors medallions,' reads a letter, dated Aug. 6, seen by The Washington Post. 'We suspected something would happen as soon as the president decided he was going to take over the Kennedy Center,' Baturin told the paper. The Independent has contacted the Kennedy Center and Tiffany for comment. President Trump announced the latest crop of Kennedy Center honorees earlier this week, naming '70s rock band KISS, country legend George Strait, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, actor Sylvester Stallone, and British actor Michael Crawford. They will be celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors award ceremony in December, hosted by none other than Donald Trump. In February, Trump bucked decades of bipartisanship at the public-private arts institution and pushed out presidentially appointed trustees from the Biden era. The new board then took the unusual step of voting Trump as its chair. Since the takeover, Trump has vowed to eliminate 'woke' content from the Kennedy Center, and has been met with some boos and boycotts from audience members and performers. The president's Republican allies, meanwhile, have proposed a bill that would rename the Kennedy Center the Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts. Announcing the honorees this week, the president said he was personally involved in the selection and vetoed "a couple of wokesters" proposed by the Kennedy Center board. Staff were reportedly caught off guard by the decision, and Kennedy Center Honors executive produce Matthew Winer announced his resignation this week. The Kennedy Center isn't the only major Washington public institution getting a Trump makeover. The White House is reportedly planning a sweeping review of the Smithsonian Institution, home to many of the nation's premier historical and cultural museums, to ensure everything from exhibits to operations are in line with the president's interpretation of history ahead of upcoming celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S.
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First Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Did Tom Cruise turn down invite to receive lifetime achievement award from Donald Trump? Here's what we know
The report also shared that the representative of Tom Cruise refused to comment on the matter Tom Cruise, the popular Hollywood actor, known for his work in the MI and Top Gun franchises, has reportedly declined to be among the first group of Kennedy Center Honorees during US President Donald Trump's second term in the White House due to 'scheduling conflicts'. 'Tom Cruise was offered the honors but declined because of scheduling conflicts, according to several current and former Kennedy Center employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss event plans,' read a Washington Post report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The report also shared that the representative of Tom Cruise refused to comment on the matter. US President Donald Trump named Hollywood legend Sylvester Stallone and country music great George Strait among the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors on Wednesday. This action of Trump is one of the efforts to take control of the Kennedy Center arts complex earlier this year. One of the nation's highest arts awards will also be given to Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS, and British theatre star Michael Crawford. The President shared that he would host the Honors gala, which generally takes place in December and is later broadcast on CBS. The Valkyrie actor is still slated to receive an honorary award for his contribution to the film industry before the end of 2025. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced in June that Tom Cruise will receive an honorary Oscar at the 2025 Governors Awards on November 16. The actor was last featured in _Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning_, which also starred Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, and Angela Bassett in supporting roles. The movie was directed by Christopher McQuarrie. It was the last part of the MI franchise.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Trump says he'll host Kennedy Center awards
President Trump announced on Wednesday that he'll be hosting this year's Kennedy Center Honors after prodding from his chief of staff, Susie Wiles. 'It's gonna be a big evening. I've been asked to host. I said, 'I'm the president of the United States. Are you fools, asking me to do this?'' said Trump, who named himself chairman of the cultural institution's board earlier this year. ''Sir, you'll get much higher ratings.' I said, 'I don't care. I'm president of the United States. I won't do it.' They said 'please.' And then Susie Wiles said to me, 'Sir, I'd like you to host.' I said, 'Okay, Susie, I'll do it,'' the president recounted, prompting laughter from the audience. 'So, I have agreed to host,' Trump said, though he stressed he 'did not insist' upon the job. Trump was at the Kennedy Center on Wednesday to reveal the 2025 class of Honors recipients, including actor Sylvester Stallone, country music star George Strait, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, actor Michael Crawford and the rock band KISS. He said he was '98 percent involved' in the process of selecting honorees, and appeared to suggest some contenders were turned down for being 'too woke.' 'I turned down plenty. They were too woke. I turned- I had a couple of woke-sters. No, we have great people,' the president said. Trump has also teased that his name could possibly replace that of the 35th president on the historic institution.
GMA Network
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Trump names Stallone, Strait among Kennedy Center honorees
Sylvester Stallone is unveiled by U.S. President Donald Trump as the Kennedy Center Honoree, during Donald Trump's visit to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 13, 2025. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday named "Rocky" star Sylvester Stallone and country music great George Strait among the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors, as he pursues a controversial overhaul of the storied arts institution. Disco diva Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS and British theater star Michael Crawford, known for his indelible turn in the lead role of Broadway staple "Phantom of the Opera," will also receive the Honors, one of the nation's highest arts awards. Trump announced he himself would host the Honors gala, which usually takes place in early December and is later broadcast on CBS. "I did not insist, but I think it will be quite successful," he told reporters at the stately white marble complex overlooking the Potomac River. He also joked that he wanted an honor himself but was "never able to get one." Stallone, who at 79 is the same age as Trump, is a three-time Oscar nominee: for best actor and screenplay for the 1976 classic boxing flick "Rocky," and for best supporting actor, again in the Rocky Balboa role, in the 2015 follow-up "Creed." He is also a major Trump supporter and one of the president's "Hollywood ambassadors" along with Jon Voight and Mel Gibson. Strait, 73, is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, known for huge hits like "All My Exes Live in Texas" and "Amarillo by Morning." Gaynor, 81, is the singer behind the monster disco anthem "I Will Survive." KISS, formed in the 1970s in Trump's hometown New York City, gained fame with its shock rock performances and outlandish black and white face paint. Crawford, 83, made his mark on British television in the 1970s before achieving international success by originating the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Phantom of the Opera," thrilling audiences with his powerful tenor voice. 'Not going to be woke' The Kennedy Center, one of the nation's top performing arts venues, is a living monument to the late John F. Kennedy. Opened in 1971, it has long enjoyed bipartisan support. But in February, shortly after returning to the Oval Office, Trump ousted the center's leadership and installed himself as board chairman, vowing to purge any programming he deems objectionable. "A few short months ago, I became chairman of the Kennedy Center," Trump said Wednesday. "We ended the programming." In his first term, from 2017 to 2021, the Republican president skipped the Kennedy Center Honors gala, the biggest fundraiser of the year, because some of the artists receiving awards criticized him or said they would not attend in his presence. The Kennedy Center is home to the National Symphony Orchestra and also offers theater, opera, comedy and other productions. Many artists associated with the center, including opera singer Renee Fleming and musician Ben Folds, have cut ties with the institution. Others including comedian Issa Rae canceled performances. The producers of smash hit historical musical "Hamilton" opted to cancel a scheduled 2026 run timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, citing the end of "neutrality" at the center. — Agence France-Presse
