> At a Glance
> – Grammy-winning banjoist Béla Fleck has canceled three upcoming concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra
> – The Kennedy Center added President Trump’s name to its title in December, sparking artist boycotts
> – At least six acts have now pulled performances since the controversial renaming
> – Why it matters: The dispute highlights growing tension between politics and the arts in America’s premier cultural venue
Grammy-winning banjo player Béla Fleck has become the latest artist to cancel performances at the Kennedy Center following the controversial addition of President Trump’s name to the venue. His decision joins a growing wave of boycotts that began after the center’s board voted to rename the institution last month.
The Cancellation
Fleck had been scheduled to perform three concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra next month. In a statement posted Monday on X, he explained his decision:
> “I have withdrawn from my upcoming performance with the NSO at The Kennedy Center. Performing there has become charged and political, at an institution where the focus should be on the music. I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together share and celebrate art.”
Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell responded sharply on X:
> “You just made it political and caved to the woke mob who wants you to perform for only Lefties. The Trump Kennedy Center believes all people are welcome – Democrats and Republicans and people uninterested in politics. We want performers who aren’t political – who simply love entertaining everyone regardless of who they voted for.”
Growing Artist Exodus
Fleck joins at least five other acts who have canceled since the renaming:
- Chuck Redd – Canceled his Christmas Eve concert (hosted since 2006)
- The Cookers – Pulled their New Year’s Eve performance
- Kristy Lee – Canceled upcoming folk shows
- Doug Varone and Dancers – Withdrew scheduled dance performances
- Stephen Schwartz – Backed out of hosting a May gala, stating the venue was “founded to be an apolitical home for free artistic expression”
The Controversial Renaming
The timeline of events shows escalating tensions:
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 2024 | Trump fires board members, installs himself as chair |
| December 2024 | Board votes to add Trump’s name |
| December 20, 2024 | Trump’s name added to building sign |
President Trump announced his takeover of the arts institution on Truth Social, declaring: “At my direction, we are going to make the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., GREAT AGAIN.”
Legal and Family Opposition
The renaming faces legal challenges because federal law established the center as a “living memorial” to President Kennedy. Former Rep. Joseph Kennedy III stated:
> “The Kennedy Center is a living memorial to a fallen president and named for President Kennedy by federal law. It can no sooner be renamed than can someone rename the Lincoln Memorial, no matter what anyone says.”
Kennedy family members have called the naming illegitimate, arguing it would require an act of Congress to change.
Kennedy Center Response
Despite the cancellations, Roma Daravi, vice president of public relations for the Kennedy Center, told NBC News the venue had not been “impacted at all.” She highlighted financial achievements:
- $131 million raised in private and corporate donations under Trump’s leadership
- $257 million secured from Congress for infrastructure needs
- $250 million in deferred maintenance repairs addressed
Key Takeaways
- Béla Fleck’s cancellation adds momentum to the artist boycott movement
- The Kennedy Center maintains the controversy hasn’t affected operations
- Legal challenges to the renaming are ongoing
- The dispute reflects broader cultural divisions in American arts institutions
The standoff between artists and the renamed venue shows no signs of resolving, with both sides digging in on their positions about politics, art, and the purpose of America’s national cultural center.
