The president of the Kennedy Center blasted the jazz singer for the canceled Christmas Eve show
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The president of the Kennedy Center on Friday slammed longtime jazz musician Chuck Redd for canceling his Christmas Eve concert after the White House announced that President Donald Trump’s name will be added to the famous Washington, DC arts center.
The president of the Kennedy Center, Richard Grenell, said Redd’s decision has financially damaged the nonprofit center, and he will seek $1 million in damages, accusing him of engaging in “political confrontation.”
“Your decision to withdraw at the last minute – apparently in response to the rebranding of the Center, which honors President Trump’s extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure – is an old intolerance and is very expensive for a non-profit Art Center,” Grenell wrote in a letter to Rdd, obtained by Fox News Digital.
Fox News Digital could not immediately reach Redd for comment.
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The President of the Kennedy Center Richard Grenell presented to the Senate Democrats about the allegations about his leadership of the cultural center and the investigation of its finances. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Redd, who has hosted holiday Jazz Jams at the venue since 2006, abruptly canceled his Christmas Eve performance after Trump’s name was added to the venue.
“When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and hours later I was in the building, I chose to cancel our concert,” Redd told The Associated Press on Wednesday.
On Dec. 18, the Kennedy Center board voted unanimously to rename the center the “Trump-Kennedy Center.”
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Workers at a forklift stand near the letters “The Donald” above the Kennedy Center signs Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington. (Mark Schifelbein/AP Photo)
The update was immediately criticized by members of the Kennedy family who said it undermined the legacy of President John F. Kennedy.
Maria Shriver, Kennedy’s niece, reacted strongly to the decision, saying it was “beyond understanding.”
Several artists have canceled performances at the Kennedy Center since Trump returned to office, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, who canceled the production of “Hamilton.”
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The new signs, the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center For The Performing Arts, were unveiled at the Kennedy Center, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Washington. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo)
The Kennedy Center’s vice president for public affairs, Roma Daravi, told Fox News Digital on Friday that Redd was putting art into politics by suspending his performance.
“Any artist who cancels a show at the Trump Kennedy Center because of political differences has no courage or principle—they are selfish, intolerant, and have failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to sing for all people,” he said in a statement.
Daravi said art is “a shared culture that’s meant to include, not exclude,” calling the venue “a true bipartisan center that welcomes artists and patrons of all backgrounds.”
He added that “fine art transcends politics,” and that “America’s cultural institution remains committed to presenting popular programs that inspire and resonate with all audiences.”
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Last week, workers added President Trump’s name to the outside of the building, and the website title was updated to read, “The Trump Kennedy Center.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
