Kennedy Center denounces musician after canceling scheduled concert.
In a disagreement at the Kennedy Center, the venue’s president filed a formal letter to drummer Chuck Redd after the artist withdrew from a scheduled Christmas Eve “Jazz Jam.” The performance was set to take place on December 24, 2025, at the Washington, D.C., arts facility.
Redd announced his decision to cancel the concert after the White House announced that President Donald Trump would be added to the Center’s name list. He stated that his withdrawal occurred in response to the renaming and had been made after observing the change on the Center’s website and the building’s signage later that week.
The Kennedy Center’s president, Richard Grenell, criticized Redd’s abrupt cancellation as a “political stunt” and disclosed plans to seek approximately $1 million in damages. The letter was released to the Associated Press after it was shared by both parties.
The facility was originally established as a memorial to President John F. Kennedy, a requirement codified by Congress in 1964. Legislative analysis indicates that the board of trustees may not authorize renaming the center or adding another name to the exterior without congressional approval.
The matter remains unresolved, with no formal legal action yet filed and the future of the renamed building pending further review by relevant authorities.