What was once meant to be a unifying cultural landmark is now at the center of a growing boycott.
More artists are canceling scheduled performances at the Kennedy Center following the controversial addition of President Donald Trump’s name to the iconic venue. The latest withdrawal comes from jazz supergroup The Cookers, who pulled out of a planned New Year’s Eve performance, adding fuel to an already escalating cultural standoff.
The cancellations are part of a broader backlash that began earlier this year. After Trump dismissed the Kennedy Center board, appointed himself chairman, and later approved adding his name to the building, several high profile figures exited in protest. Actor and producer Issa Rae canceled a scheduled appearance. The producers of the Broadway juggernaut Hamilton followed suit. Music figures including Ben Folds and Renée Fleming stepped down from advisory roles.
For The Cookers, the decision came quickly. In a statement posted to their website, the band acknowledged the disappointment the cancellation might cause fans, but stressed that they want to perform in environments where the music and the people in the room are fully welcomed. Without directly naming Trump or the Kennedy Center, the group emphasized their commitment to music that connects across divides rather than deepening them.
One member was far less subtle.
Saxophonist Billy Harper addressed the controversy head on in comments posted to the Jazz Stage Facebook page. He said he would never consider performing in a venue that carries a name and is governed by a board that, in his words, represents overt racism and the deliberate destruction of African American music and culture. Harper said both the board and the name itself stand for values he has spent his life resisting.
According to the White House, Trump’s handpicked board approved the renaming. Harper responded by saying that the decision symbolizes a mentality he continues to oppose, now more than ever.
Trump ally Richard Grenell, whom Trump installed as Kennedy Center president after removing prior leadership, fired back on social media. Posting on X, Grenell claimed that the artists now canceling were booked by what he called “previous far left leadership,” suggesting the backlash is rooted in partisan loyalty rather than principle.
In a statement to Associated Press, Grenell doubled down, arguing that the last minute cancellations prove the artists were never willing to perform for audiences with different political views. He added that the Kennedy Center has since been flooded with inquiries from artists who claim to reject political messaging in their work.
Legal threats have also entered the conversation. After jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled a Christmas Eve show citing the renaming, Grenell publicly stated he would pursue $1 million in damages, calling the decision a political stunt. It remains unclear whether similar action will be taken against The Cookers.
Not every performer is walking away. Bluegrass banjoist Randy Barrett, who is scheduled to perform at the Kennedy Center next month, told the AP he is deeply troubled by the politicization of the venue. While he respects artists who have canceled, Barrett said the country needs more music and art right now, not less, calling it one of the few forces capable of bringing people together.
The irony is hard to miss.
President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 1963, and Congress passed legislation the following year designating the Kennedy Center as a living memorial to him. Legal scholars have pointed out that any name change would require congressional approval. The law explicitly prohibits the board from turning the building into a memorial for anyone else or placing another individual’s name on the exterior.
As artists continue to choose sides, the Kennedy Center is no longer just a stage for performance. It has become a symbol in a wider battle over culture, power, and who gets to define the space where art lives.