Kennedy Center Christmas Eve Jazz Concert Canceled Amid Name Change Controversy

The annual Christmas Eve jazz concert at the Kennedy Center, a tradition spanning over two decades, has been canceled. Musician Chuck Redd, who has hosted the event since 2006, made the decision after the White House announced the addition of President Donald Trump's name to the facility.

As of last Friday, the building's facade reads "The Donald J. Trump and The John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." The White House stated that the president's appointed board approved the change, a move that some scholars argue violates federal law. The 1964 legislation establishing the center explicitly prohibits adding another person's name to the building's exterior.

Redd, a drummer and vibraphone player who has performed with artists like Dizzy Gillespie and Ray Brown, expressed his decision:

"When I saw the name change on the Kennedy Center website and then hours later on the building, I chose to cancel our concert."

The Kennedy Center has not immediately responded to requests for comment. The center's website lists the show as canceled.

The renaming has sparked opposition from members of the Kennedy family. Kerry Kennedy, niece of President John F. Kennedy, has vowed to remove Trump's name from the building once he leaves office. Former House historian Ray Smock and others assert that any changes to the center's name would require congressional approval.

President Trump has been actively involved with the center, overhauling its leadership and personally hosting this year's Kennedy Center Honors, deviating from the tradition of presidents serving as spectators. These changes are part of the president's broader initiative to influence federal cultural institutions.

Several artists have canceled performances at the Kennedy Center in response to the renaming, including Issa Rae, Peter Wolf, and Lin-Manuel Miranda, who canceled a planned production of "Hamilton."