Award-winning singer-musician Rhiannon Giddens has canceled her May 2025 Kennedy Center concert in protest of former President Donald Trump’s unprecedented control over the institution. The Grammy-winning artist announced the decision on social media, calling the venue’s politicization “a direct threat to artistic independence.”
The Kennedy Center show was booked long before the current administration decided to take over this previously bipartisan institution,Giddens wrote.
This move follows Trump’s recent ousting of Kennedy Center leadership and his appointment as board chair – part of his broader campaign against cultural institutions he labels “woke.” Giddens will instead perform at Washington D.C.’s The Anthem, a privately-owned venue.
The Kennedy Center, a 100-foot complex hosting 3 million annual visitors through federally funded programs, has faced mounting artist withdrawals since Trump’s involvement:
- Actor Issa Rae canceled a scheduled lecture series
- Author Louise Penny withdrew from literary events
- Rock band Low Cut Connie scrapped a summer concert
Giddens – a MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient and co-creator of Pulitzer-winning opera “Omar” – joins growing dissent among cultural leaders. While singer Victoria Clark proceeded with her February Kennedy Center show, she performed in an “ANTI TRUMP AF” T-shirt as silent protest.
Analysts note this clash reflects deepening divides between the arts community and political figures seeking to influence cultural narratives. The Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, known for free public performances, now faces questions about programming autonomy under Trump’s board leadership.