A celebrated musician canceled his show at Kennedy Center after controversial name change, then the center’s president hit him with a shocking threat

The fallout from the Kennedy Center’s controversial decision to include President Trump’s name in its official title is escalating, with multiple celebrated musicians now canceling upcoming performances at the venue, as per NBC News. This isn’t just a few disgruntled artists; we’re talking about shows previously scheduled for major holidays like Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, and a concert slated for January 14.

The center’s interim president, Richard Grenell, has not taken these withdrawals lightly. In fact, he’s publicly attacked the artists, calling their cancellations a form of “derangement syndrome.” Grenell, who also serves as a special envoy for President Trump, took to social media to claim these canceling artists were “far left political activists” booked by the center’s “previous far left leadership.”

He argued that their actions prove the old team was more interested in politics than in booking artists willing to perform for everyone, regardless of political belief. He dramatically stated that boycotting the arts to support the arts is, essentially, crazy.

The artists themselves are framing their decisions as matters of deep ethical integrity

Folk singer Kristy Lee, who was set to perform in January, announced her cancellation, stressing that while canceling shows hurts, “losing my integrity would cost me more than any paycheck.” She’s already pivoted, planning to play a live show from her home instead of taking the Kennedy Center stage next month.

Lee’s representative, Tauna Pierce, confirmed that the withdrawal was a direct response to the name change. Pierce noted that Lee felt compromising her integrity would cost more than the financial loss of the canceled show. Lee herself added that she believes publicly funded spaces must remain free from “political capture, self-promotion, or ideological pressure.”

Even the legendary jazz band The Cookers, which was scheduled to perform Wednesday night, hinted heavily at politics in their cancellation statement. They didn’t cite the name change directly, but they emphasized that jazz was born from struggle and a relentless insistence on freedom, stating: “Our hope is that this moment will leave space for reflection, not resentment.” The band’s drummer, Billy Hart, later confirmed that the name change “evidently” played a part in their decision.

The controversy stems from the Kennedy Center board’s vote earlier this month to change the institution’s name. Almost immediately, President Trump’s name was affixed to the building’s facade. Critics, including lawmakers and members of the Kennedy family, were quick to point out that the institution was established by Congress to honor President John F. Kennedy and cannot be renamed without congressional approval. Rep. Joyce Beatty, D-Ohio, an ex officio board member, has already filed a lawsuit against the administration, calling the renaming a “flagrant violation of the rule of law.”

The level of hostility aimed at the canceling artists is intense. Chuck Redd, a jazz musician who called off his Christmas Eve concert after presiding over the annual event for nearly 20 years, received a shocking threat. Grenell sent Redd a letter threatening to sue him for $1 million, calling the decision to back out a “political stunt,” much like how the DHS attacked Sabrina Carpenter when she called out their agenda.

Adding to the center’s aggressive stance, spokesperson Roma Daravi released a statement saying any artist canceling their show at the newly named center over political differences isn’t courageous or principled. Instead, they’re “selfish, intolerant, and have failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to perform for all people.”