US Edition‘A Successful Night’: Kennedy Center Pushes Back on Historic Low ‘Honors’ Ratings
The Kennedy Center cited $23 million raised and 1.5 billion social media impressions despite a 25% TV audience drop amid industry declines and broadcast timing challenges.
- On Dec. 23 the Kennedy Center defended the Honors after a Trump-hosted telecast averaged 3.01 million viewers on CBS, the first time a sitting president hosted.
- Citing industry trends, the center argued a roughly 20% television industry usage decline, a Tuesday air date two days before Christmas, and Nielsen Big Data + Panel system changes all contributed to weaker ratings.
- Highlighting digital reach, Kennedy Center officials said Honors generated 1.5 billion social-media impressions and raised $23 million this year, tying for #1 among adults 25-54 despite industry challenges.
- Performance cancellations followed backlash over the center's `MAGA-fication` after Trump's takeover, last month the board of the Kennedy Center voted to add Trump's name, prompting Kennedy family objections, while Rep. Joyce Beatty sued, arguing only Congress can rename the institution.
- Despite promises that the broadcast would be the highest-rated, ratings have trended downward from 5.3 million in 2022 to 4.1 million in 2024 under Donald Trump and the newly installed Kennedy Center board.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Kennedy Center Disputes Media Claims of Low Ratings for Honors Ceremony: 'Performed Extremely Well Across Key Demographics'
The Kennedy Center has disputed media claims of low ratings during its honors ceremony hosted by President Trump several days before Christmas. The post Kennedy Center Disputes Media Claims of Low Ratings for Honors Ceremony: ‘Performed Extremely Well Across Key Demographics’ appeared first on Breitbart.
‘A Successful Night’: Kennedy Center Pushes Back on Historic Low ‘Honors’ Ratings
The month of December was an eventful one for the Kennedy Center. In the leadup to Christmas, the institution was controversially renamed Trump-Kennedy Center, with new signage installed. Then came the boycotts, the threat of retaliatory lawsuits, and the Dec. 23 broadcast of the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, which delivered all-time low ratings. And this after Donald Trump, who became the first sitting president to host the show, had predicted …
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CeCe Winans Praises Sister’s Performance At Trump-Hosted Kennedy Center Honors, Sparks Mixed Reactions
Source: Eugenia R. Washington / Getty Some fans expressed disappointment with legendary gospel singer CeCe Winans after she shared a video of her sister, Debbie Winans, performing at the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors on Dec. 23. Critics took issue with the “Goodness of God” singer praising the annual event, which was hosted this year by President Donald Trump and honored artists such as country music legend George Strait and Grammy-winning singer G…
Kennedy Center’s MAGA makeover backfires as honors show viewership crashes to all-time low
Chaos continues to engulf the Kennedy Center as its honors show suffered a devastating ratings nosedive in 2025, according to a new report. The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual award that recognizes lifetime achievements in the performing arts, including music, dance, theater, opera, film, and television. It was established in 1977 and honors five recipients each year at a gala held in the Kennedy Center’s Opera House in Washington, D.C. The 2…
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