Several high-profile artists and groups have recently canceled performances at the Kennedy Center (now often referred to in news as the Trump–Kennedy Center) in protest of the institution’s renaming and leadership changes.

Key artists who have canceled

  • Rhiannon Giddens – The Pulitzer Prize–winning musician pulled out of a scheduled appearance, cited in coverage of a “wave of withdrawals and resignations” tied to the Trump-era reshaping of the center’s board and name.
  • Low Cut Connie – The rock band canceled planned shows at the venue over the past year, listed among the first wave of artists stepping back from the center.
  • Issa Rae – The actor and writer canceled a scheduled event, grouped with other performers who withdrew after the renaming controversy.
  • The Cookers – A veteran jazz ensemble that was to play “A Jazz New Year’s Eve” canceled two New Year’s Eve concerts, explicitly linking their decision to the name change.
  • Doug Varone and Dancers – The New York–based dance company canceled two performances that were to be part of its 40th‑anniversary season, saying they could “no longer permit” themselves or their audiences to enter the institution after the takeover and renaming.
  • Kristy Lee – The country/folk singer canceled a January 14 concert, stating that losing her integrity would cost more than the paycheck and objecting to history being “renamed or rebranded for somebody else’s ego.”
  • Chuck Redd – The jazz musician called off a Christmas Eve performance, one of the earlier holiday-season cancellations noted in political and arts coverage.
  • “Hamilton” (Lin‑Manuel Miranda’s musical) – A planned run of the musical at the Kennedy Center in spring 2026 was canceled, frequently cited as one of the most visible programming losses tied to the controversy.

These cancellations are typically framed as political or ethical statements rather than routine scheduling changes, with artists emphasizing concerns about the center’s mission, its renaming, and broader symbolism.

Related resignations (not cancellations, but often mentioned together)

While not “canceled shows,” several prominent figures have resigned roles connected to the Kennedy Center in the same political context:

  • Ben Folds – Resigned as an adviser to the National Symphony Orchestra, in parallel with performance withdrawals.
  • Shonda Rhimes – Stepped down as treasurer of the Kennedy Center’s board after the leadership purge.
  • Renée Fleming – Resigned as artistic advisor at large, although she is still reported as scheduled to perform in 2026.

Mini context: why this is trending

  • News outlets describe a “string of abrupt cancellations” following the board decision to add President Donald Trump’s name to the building and the subsequent leadership shake‑up.
  • Commentators and forum users debate whether pulling out is a necessary stand for artistic values or an empty symbolic protest that hurts staff and audiences more than the former president.
  • Kennedy Center representatives have publicly criticized canceling artists as selfish and intolerant, arguing that performers have a responsibility to “perform for everyone,” which has further fueled online discussion and coverage.

Important note

Public lists are still evolving, and not every cancellation is comprehensively documented in one place; the names above are those repeatedly cited by major news outlets and widely discussed on forums as of late December 2025.

TL;DR:
Artists and groups who have canceled at the Kennedy Center amid the Trump renaming dispute include Rhiannon Giddens, Low Cut Connie, Issa Rae, the Cookers, Doug Varone and Dancers, Kristy Lee, Chuck Redd, and the planned run of “Hamilton,” with several prominent advisers and board figures resigning in parallel.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.