The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors were held on Tuesday night.
We previously reported who was named in this class of honorees - singer Gloria Gaynor, actor/director Sylvester Stallone, actor and singer Michael Crawford, country star George Strait, and the rock group KISS - Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Peter Criss, and the late Ace Frehley.
Tuesday was the broadcast of the formal public tribute, with performances to honor the stars. It looked like it was great fun.
READ MORE: Trump Honors the 2025 Kennedy Center Recipients With a Newly-Designed Medallion
The event opened with the host, the 45th and 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump, walking out to the theme from Rocky, to the crowd, including Sylvester Stallone and the other honorees, cheering loudly.
🚨 BREAKING: In an incredible moment, President Trump WALKS OUT to ROARING Trump-Kennedy Center crowd for the Honors ceremony
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 24, 2025
He's the HOST.
EPIC! The man is in his ELEMENT TONIGHT! 🔥🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/lC4pAG5Kf6
And in that moment, like the people who were being honored, you could feel all that it had taken to get him there, past everything that had been thrown at him. It was the first time a president had ever hosted the event.
Trump praised the honorees who had contributed to the arts, and "earned the distinction many times over."
.@POTUS opens the 48th Trump Kennedy Center Honors: "Welcome to a very special evening... this is our nation's highest recognition for lifetime achievement in the performing arts, and each of the incredible 2025 @kencen honorees has earned the distinction many, many times over." pic.twitter.com/kpdvWlhBaG
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) December 24, 2025
A fun aspect of how the event is structured is that the honorees don't know who will show up to honor them, so they will be surprised.
Kurt Russell spoke about working with Stallone on a movie. He said he was thinking, "Where in the hell did they find this boxer who is such a great actor?" Stallone's brother Frank also appeared, called him his "hero," and sang. Actor Garrett Hedlund, who stars in the TV series Tulsa King with Stallone, called him a “humble soul who truly cares about everyone.”
Kelsey Grammar sang 'Hello, Dolly" to Michael Crawford, recalling one of his roles. Broadway singers also performed a song from The Phantom of the Opera.
"Hello, Michael!"@KelseyGrammer, inspired by Michael Crawford's legendary physical comedy and ethereal tenor, opened his tribute to the "original Phantom of the Opera" at the 48th Kennedy Center Honors with a delightful nod to Crawford's iconic role in Hello, Dolly!
— The Trump Kennedy Center (@kencen) December 20, 2025
Watch the… pic.twitter.com/FqRv5lGTn9
Crawford was tearing up; he was so touched.
Vince Gill, Brooks and Dunn, and Miranda Lambert performed honoree George Strait's songs.
Gloria Gaynor had Elle King sing her hit, "I Will Survive." Deniece Williams also sang, while Jason Crabb, Chris Blue, and Debbie Winans performed songs from Gaynor’s gospel album.
They ended the night rocking to KISS. Garth Brooks performed "Shout It Out Loud." They had a smoking guitar on stage to honor Frehley. Then Cheap Trick ended the night, bringing people to their feet with “Rock and Roll All Nite."
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