2025 Kennedy Center Honorees: George Strait, KISS- and Make Up?

The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors will be anything but predictable. This year’s honorees — announced by President Donald Trump, now chairman of the institution — span genres, generations, and glitter levels: country legend George Strait, rock icons KISS, disco queen Gloria Gaynor, Broadway star Michael Crawford, and Hollywood’s own Sylvester Stallone.

The December ceremony will mark the first under Trump’s revamped Kennedy Center leadership, a change that’s already stirred national debate. The president, who said he was “98% involved” in choosing the honorees and rejected candidates he deemed “too woke,” will personally host the event — a first in his political career.

KISS and Make Up

Trump’s choice of KISS is raising eyebrows, given his well-known aversion to critics. Still, the band’s induction into the Kennedy Center legacy was met with enthusiastic, if not face-painted, gratitude.
“KISS is the embodiment of the American dream,” bassist and singer Gene Simmons told Billboard. “We are deeply honored to receive the Kennedy Center Honor.” Guitarist and frontman Paul Stanley added, “From our earliest days, KISS has embodied the American ideal that all things are possible and that hard work pays off. The prestige of the Kennedy Center Honors cannot be overstated.”

Former guitarist Ace Frehley called it a “dream come true that I never thought would materialize,” while former drummer Peter Criss said, “I feel so blessed. This is the greatest honor of our career.”

From Country Charts to Concert Records

Trump announced George Strait’s selection with his signature flair: “Over an extraordinary four-decade career, George has sold more than 120 million records worldwide, amassed 60 No. 1 hits — wow — and produced 33 platinum-certified albums, more than any other living American. He is believed by millions to be just as good as you can get. They call him the ‘King of Country.’”

Strait, known for classics like “Ocean Front Property” and “All My Ex’s Live in Texas,” continues to break attendance records — including last year’s 110,000-strong crowd at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.

Gloria Gaynor’s Disco Crown Still Shines

Joining Strait and KISS is Gloria Gaynor, the voice behind one of music’s most enduring anthems, “I Will Survive.” Gaynor’s influence stretches far beyond the dance floor, inspiring generations with her message of resilience and empowerment. While her career spans decades, her Kennedy Center nod cements her place in the upper echelon of American performers.

An Honors Class with Sparks

This year’s honorees will take the stage in December for a celebration of artistry — and, if the mix of cowboy hats, platform boots, and disco ball glamour is any indication, the evening will be one for the history books. Whether you come for Strait’s smooth drawl, KISS’s pyrotechnics, or Gaynor’s unstoppable groove, the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors promise a show as unpredictable as its selection process.