President Donald Trump hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors ceremony in the Oval Office on Saturday, presenting medals to a lineup of artists he described as “perhaps the most accomplished and renowned” in the program’s history. This year’s honorees include actor Sylvester Stallone, singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait, rock legends Kiss, and actor-singer Michael Crawford.
Speaking warmly about the recipients, Trump called them “incredible people” who represent the “very best in American arts and culture,” noting that he personally knew several of them and had long admired their work.
A new Kennedy Center medal unveiled by Trump
Each honoree received a redesigned medallion created and donated by Tiffany & Co. The new medal features a gold disc with the Kennedy Center’s image and rainbow colors on one side and the honoree’s name and ceremony date on the reverse. With the navy blue ribbon, the medal replaces the long-used rainbow shoulder ribbon tradition dating back to 1978.
Country music icon George Strait was the first to receive his medal. As he prepared to remove his signature cowboy hat, Trump encouraged him to keep it on if he wished, joking that they could “make it work.” Strait ultimately removed the hat for the presentation.
Celebrating icons of US culture
The President highlighted each honoree’s contributions to their respective fields. He praised Michael Crawford for his celebrated run in The Phantom of the Opera, calling him a “great star of Broadway.” Of Gloria Gaynor, Trump said, “We have the disco queen and nobody did it like Gloria Gaynor,” referencing her enduring global influence.
Trump offered particularly affectionate remarks for Sylvester Stallone, a longtime friend, describing him as “wonderful,” “spectacular,” and “one of the true great movie stars.” He called Stallone “one of the great legends” whose career has left a lasting impact on film and popular culture.
A ceremony marking legacy and reinvention
This year’s event blended tradition with renewal, pairing the longstanding prestige of the Kennedy Center Honors with a modernized medallion and a more intimate Oval Office setting.
For the honorees, the moment celebrated decades of artistic achievement; for the administration, it was an opportunity to elevate voices that have shaped American entertainment across genres and generations.
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