Rhiannon Giddens, the Grammy-winning musician and Pulitzer Prize recipient, has canceled her May 2025 performance at Washington’s Kennedy Center, citing concerns over former President Donald Trump’s recent leadership takeover. In a social media statement, Giddens announced her decision to move the concert to The Anthem, declaring the Kennedy Center “a previously bipartisan institution” now compromised by political influence.
“The Kennedy Center show was booked long before the current administration decided to take over this institution,”Giddens wrote, referencing Trump’s unprecedented election as board chair and removal of longstanding leadership. Her exit follows a growing list of artists – including actor Issa Rae and rock band Low Cut Connie – abandoning the venue amid accusations of ideological purging.
Key developments in the controversy:
- Trump assumed board leadership in early 2025 after ousting bipartisan trustees
- Over 15 major artists have canceled Kennedy Center events since January
- Performers like Victoria Clark have staged silent protests during shows
The 100-foot cultural complex, which hosts 3 million annual visitors across its concert halls and theaters, faces its worst credibility crisis since opening in 1971. Government funding accounts for 40% of its $250 million budget, raising questions about political interference in arts programming.
Giddens’ departure carries particular weight given her MacArthur Genius Grant status and role in reshaping American roots music through projects like the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Her 2022 Pulitzer-winning opera “Omar” explored themes of cultural resistance – context that sharpens her stance against the Trump administration’s “anti-woke” policies.
As bipartisan lawmakers call for congressional hearings on the Kennedy Center’s governance, the institution’s Millennium Stage – known for free public performances – now risks becoming a symbol of political division rather than artistic unity.
