Latest news with #KennedyCenterHonours
India.com
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
US President Donald Trump announces Kennedy Center Honours, Sylvester Stallone tops the list
This year's Kennedy Center Honours was recently announced by US President Donald Trump. The names of the awardees announced by Trump are action icon Sylvester Stallone, celebrated stage actor Michael Crawford, legendary singers George Strait and Gloria Gaynor, and the iconic rock band KISS. Breaking from tradition, he will personally host the show later this year to celebrate the recipients of one of the nation's highest honors for artists. The news was announced by Trump during a press conference at the performing arts center on Wednesday. 'The 48th Kennedy Center Honorees are outstanding people, an outstanding group – incredible. We can't wait to celebrate the Kennedy Center Honors,' said Trump, as quoted by Variety. This year's list of honorees is the first chosen under Donald Trump's tenure as chairman of the Kennedy Center's board. The award show celebrates those artists who have contributed to American culture through the performing arts. The move marks a striking change from his first term as president when Trump famously skipped the ceremony several times after 2017 honorees openly criticized him. According to a report by Variety, last February, Trump revealed that he was picked 'unanimously' to head the Kennedy Center's board—a decision that quickly became the talk of the tinsel town when Trump replaced a number of board members who were appointed by former President Joe Biden. The Kennedy Center Honors, a staple of Washington, D.C.'s cultural calendar, takes place every December and is broadcast nationwide on CBS. When last year's awards were announced, they gave recognition to an eclectic group of icons, including legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, rock band the Grateful Dead, music powerhouse Bonnie Raitt, jazz great Arturo Sandoval, and the historic Apollo Theater. Meanwhile, this year's edition also has some reputed names, which indeed promises a star-studded celebration with Trump himself front and center.
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Fans slam iconic 80s rockers for calling Trump appointment ‘great honour'
Kiss has infuriated fans by calling their inclusion in US President Trump's Kennedy Center Honours a 'great honour.' The 80s band has been named alongside soul singer Gloria Gaynor, country star George Strait, and actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford. This is the first Kennedy Center Honours since President Trump took over as chairman of the arts and culture center in Washington DC earlier this year. The highly controversial move has been pointed to as a sign of encroaching authoritarianism in the US, as Trump's first action was removing Biden-era appointees from the board and stacking it with loyalists. Yesterday, in a press conference to announce the honourees, Trump said: 'We'll be honouring one of the greatest rock bands of all time, Kiss. So Kiss was formed in 1973 in New York City by founding band members – and incredible people, by the way – Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and Peter Criss 'Kiss became a global phenomenon. Sold more than 100 million records worldwide and produced 30 gold albums and lots of other things. They produced, they made a fortune. And they're great people and they deserve it and they work hard and they're still. 'And they're going to do something very special. Kiss is going to be here a little bit before the show. I think they're gonna do something very special. We're gonna have a good time.' In response to the announcement, Gene Simmons told TMZ: 'Kiss is the embodiment of the American dream. We are deeply honoured to receive the Kennedy Center Honour.' 'From our earliest days, Kiss has embodied the American ideal that all things are possible and that hard work pays off,' adds Paul Stanley. 'The prestige of the Kennedy Center Honours cannot be overstated, and I accept this on behalf of the long legacy of Kiss and all of the band members who helped create our iconic band.' Many Kiss fans are extremely disappointed by the band's reaction, accusing them of capitulating to Trump's growing censorship of American arts. One Reddit thread saw users embroiled in a heated discussion, with @Mr_pootatohead writing: 'Is Gene going to lick Trump's boots now after saying, a couple of years ago, 'I knew him before he entered politics. Look what that gentleman did to this country and the polarization — got all the cockroaches to rise to the top. Once upon a time, you were embarrassed to be publicly racist and out there with conspiracy theories. Now it's all out in the open because he allowed it.' Would they be allowed to wear their drag-inspired costumes?' One user disagreed, writing: 'They should decline because you don't agree politically? I hate Trump personally, but the Kennedy Honours is just a PR event to celebrate American arts & culture.' In response @twoquarters posted: 'Indeed that is what it was but the accelerated movement into authoritarianism has seen a contamination of nearly all politically? No. I don't even know we are in an era where politics even works. It's far beyond that now.' X users are also displeased, with @LeeJohnson65 writing: 'Nope. I've been a KISS fan since the beginning but if they support this regime, I'm out.' @OxfordBuckeye agreed: 'Always thought Kiss were overrated garbage. This proves it.' Indeed, Trump made no mention of how critical members of the band have been of him in the past. In January 2021, as Trump sought to call the results of the 2020 election into question, Stanley described his actions as 'abhorrent,' 'mob boss behavior,' and 'a true danger to our democracy.' Four months earlier, Stanley also wrote on Twitter: 'REGARDLESS of who you support, it is incendiary & abhorrent for ANY candidate to say 'If I lose, the election is rigged. It's an insult to those who have fought for the free, safe elections we have and dangerously implies that citizens who don't share your views are the enemy.' More Trending Simmons also countered Trump's election fraud lies in 2020, posting that '60 courts in various states and 60 Judges (including Pres Trump appointed Judges) UNANIMOUSLY, and without exception, dismissed ALL allegations of a rigged that Includes Trump appointed US Attorney General Bill Barr!!!' Back in March, Trump outlined his intention to not only host the ceremony himself, but also to choose honourees who aligned with his political views. He said: 'We'll go slightly more conservative, if you don't mind, with some of the people/ There are people out there that would not be considered that are much bigger stars than the ones that were being honoured…In the past, I mean, these are radical left lunatics that have been chosen. I didn't like it. I couldn't watch it. And the host was always terrible.' View More » It seems that, according to fans, the members of Kiss are willing to put aside their beliefs for another moment in the spotlight. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Keir Starmer embraces Volodymyr Zelensky on Downing Street ahead of Trump-Putin meeting MORE: Hollywood star made massive life change after his body 'gave up' in near-death experience MORE: South Park's latest savage Donald Trump takedown scores 6,200,000 viewers in 3 days
Time of India
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Trump Turns Sylvester Stallone's Kennedy Center Honour Into 'Me-Me' Fest
Donald Trump turned Kennedy Center Honours announcement into a 'me-me' fest. The U.S. President used the time to brag about himself as a 'bigger celeb'. Trump announced his A-list buddy Sylvester Stallone as Kennedy Center honouree. He hailed the action star as 'one of the biggest names on Hollywood Walk of Fame'. But then he quickly turned the praise around, saying- 'Only bigger name is a guy named Donald Trump'. POTUS also claimed he was 'forced' to host the awards by White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. WATCH- Read More
The Journal
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Journal
Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor and KISS included on Trump's Kennedy Centre honour's list
THE KENNEDY CENTRE, the US national cultural centre, has announced its first honourees since President Donald Trump removed the board and installed himself as chairman. Country singer George Straight, British theatre actor Michael Crawford, actor Sylvester Stallone, performing artist Gloria Gaynor and rock band KISS have been announced as this year's honourees. Performers who have made an impact on American performing arts and culture are honoured each year by the national cultural centre, located in Washington DC. Trump has been vocal about recipients in recent years. Today, Trump opened the event by claiming he initially did not want to be involved in this year's announcement. He said he later changed his mind and went onto remove the board and appoint members of his cabinet alongside him . Advertisement He individually honoured each recipient today. Trump said he was '98% involved' and 'very involved' in the selection of the honourees. Following the announcement of the honourees, the US President said: 'We have completely reversed the decline of this cherished national institution.' Sylvester Stallone is unveiled by President Donald Trump to be a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honours. Alamy Alamy Trump added: 'This is very different than it used to be. These are great people. I don't have any idea if they are Republican. Look at the Academy Awards now, it's all woke. All they do is how much they hate Trump, but they don't watch now sic.. ' He said that the US National Concert Hall, where the Kennedy centre is based, will be revamped while he is chairman. The former chairman, philanthropist David Rubenstein, has been cited as a former ally of Trump's predecessor Joe Biden. During his first term, it was requested that Trump not attend the event over concerns that the event would be politicised. He today claimed that if the board 'make it our kind of political, [ratings] would go up'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Trump warns Putin of 'very severe consequences' if Russian-Ukraine war continues: calls talks with EU a '10/10'; Zelenskyy claims Putin is 'bluffing'
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin would face 'very severe consequences' if he does not agree to halt the war in Ukraine after their upcoming summit later this week in Alaska on Friday. Trump's remarks came after announcing this year's Kennedy Center Honours recipients in Washington. However, the US president did not specify what those consequences would be. The warning came just hours after a virtual meeting with European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , in which Trump pledged to make securing a ceasefire a priority during his talks with Putin on Friday in Anchorage. Trump described the call with European leaders and Zelenskyy as 'very friendly' and rated it 'a 10 out of 10.' However, he declined to answer questions about whether he had demanded that Putin meet in Zelenskyy's presence. Putin is 'bluffing' on war and sanctions During the call, Zelenskyy told leaders that Putin is "bluffing" about both Russia's military capabilities and the impact of Western sanctions. He warned that Putin, 'is trying to apply pressure ... on all sectors of the Ukrainian front' in an attempt to show that Russia is 'capable of occupying all of Ukraine.' Putin is also bluffing that sanctions 'do not matter to him and are ineffective," he said, further adding that, 'In reality, sanctions are very helpful and are hitting Russia's war economy hard.' European leaders push for ceasefire German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who organised the meeting to ensure European and Ukrainian voices are heard ahead of the summit, said 'important decisions' could be made in Alaska but stressed that European and Ukrainian security interests must be protected. He insisted that a ceasefire should come at the start of any negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking separately, confirmed that Trump was 'very clear' in expressing the US commitment to pushing for a ceasefire during his meeting with Putin. The Alaska summit, taking place at a US military base historically used to counter Russia, is intended as what Trump called 'a feel-out meeting' to gauge Putin's seriousness about ending the war, now in its fourth year. However, Trump has frustrated some European allies by suggesting that Ukraine may need to give up certain Russian-held territories and accept land swaps, proposals that remain unclear and contentious. Earlier on Monday, Trump avoided repeated questions about whether he would insist on Zelenskyy's direct participation in discussions with Putin. He later suggested that after Friday's summit, a separate meeting could take place involving himself, Putin, and Zelenskyy. The Trump–Putin meeting in Alaska is set for Friday, with expectations high but uncertainty over whether it will lead to any breakthrough toward ending the conflict.
