<\/p>\n
President Trump will host the 48th annual Kennedy Center Honors on Sunday, becoming the first president to host the event.<\/p>\n
Since returning to office, the president has seized control of the performing arts center, named for former President Kennedy.<\/p>\n
In February, he terminated the tenures of multiple board members and installed himself<\/a> as the Kennedy Center\u2019s new board chair. Days later, he named longtime ally<\/a> Richard Grenell the center\u2019s interim executive director. The event, which is being taped Sunday, will air on CBS on Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 8 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n Here is what to know about the event:<\/p>\n The honors, dating back to 1978, recognizes \u201cindividuals whose unique contributions have shaped our world,\u201d according to the center\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s honorees are country musician George Strait, the band KISS \u2014 composed of Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss and Ace Frehley \u2014 disco singer Gloria Gaynor and actors Michael Crawford and Sylvester Stallone.<\/p>\n Grenell said on the center\u2019s website<\/a> that the five honorees \u201chave left an indelible mark on our history, reminding us that the arts are for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Sunday\u2019s gala will feature performances and tributes honoring the group.<\/p>\n A president has not hosted the event in its 47-year history<\/a>. Leonard Bernstein hosted the inaugural edition in 1978, with Walter Cronkite, Caroline Kennedy, Glenn Close, Stephen Colbert and David Letterman among the various hosts since.<\/p>\n Trump did not attend any of the three editions of the event during his first term. But in August, the president said he would host this year\u2019s gala<\/a>.<\/p>\n During an event paying tribute to the honorees in the Oval Office on Saturday, Trump predicted that this year\u2019s edition of the event \u201cwill be the highest-rated show that they\u2019ve ever done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve gotten some pretty good ratings,\u201d the president continued. \u201cBut there\u2019s nothing like what\u2019s going to happen tomorrow night.\u201d<\/p>\n Trump also bashed Jimmy Kimmel, calling the late-night comedian a \u201chorrible\u201d host. Kimmel has not hosted the Kennedy Center Honors.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I can\u2019t beat out Jimmy Kimmel in terms of talent, then I don\u2019t think I should be president,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/i><\/p>\nWhat are the Kennedy Center Honors?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Who has hosted the event?<\/strong><\/h2>\n