Kennedy Center Demands $1M from Musician After Controversial Cancellation

Sun Dec 28 2025 11:17:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The Kennedy Center is seeking damages from musician Chuck Redd following his cancellation of a concert after the venue was renamed to include President Trump's name.

In a surprising turn of events, the Kennedy Center has taken legal action against musician Chuck Redd, requesting $1 million in damages. Redd canceled his annual Christmas Eve concert, which he has hosted since 2006, after the venue was rebranded as the Trump Kennedy Center. The center's president, Richard Grenell, characterized Redd's actions as a politically motivated stunt that has adversely affected the institution's finances, citing decreased ticket sales and donor support. The controversy has sparked widespread criticism, including a lawsuit from Congresswoman Joyce Beatty aimed at reversing the name change.

The head of the Kennedy Center in Washington DC has demanded $1m (£740,000) in damages from musician Chuck Redd, who canceled a concert after President Donald Trump's name was added to the venue.

Chuck Redd called off his Christmas Eve performance, a tradition since 2006, following a vote by the board to rename the venue the Trump Kennedy Center.

In his letter, Richard Grenell stated that the cancellation was a political stunt and highlighted the financial implications, claiming that it has cost the center considerably. Redd has yet to respond to the allegations.

Shortly after Trump assumed office, he terminated several board members, appointing allies who voted to establish Trump as the board chairman.

Grenell's communication to Redd described the cancellation as a sign of intolerance and an event that was detrimental to the non-profit arts institution.

Last week, the White House disclosed that the center's board had voted unanimously to rename the cultural institution as The Donald J Trump and John F Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.

In the immediate aftermath, crews began the process of etching Trump’s name onto the building's façade, and related online platforms were also updated.

Reportedly, the renaming was aimed at acknowledging Trump’s contributions to the renovation of the building; however, the decision has faced backlash from Democrats, artists, and members of the Kennedy family.

Upon seeing the name change on the center's website and subsequently on the building, Redd opted to cancel the concert, stating: When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert.

Congresswoman Joyce Beatty has since initiated a lawsuit to contest the name change, asserting that changing the name requires an act of Congress, based on a law passed in 1964 designating the center in Kennedy's honor.

The lawsuit notes that Beatty attempted to voice her dissent during the board meeting about the name change but was muted, which she claims infringes on her rights as a designated board member.

The Kennedy Center's construction dates back to the 1950s, and it was transformed into a living memorial for JFK after his assassination in 1963.