Paul Anka, Andy Garcia, Barbara Mandrell will get Kennedy Center Honors
The revamped awards come amid a legal fight over Donald Trump’s push to rename the arts institution and a backlash that led artists to drop out.
- On Monday, the Kennedy Center announced singer Paul Anka, Barbara Mandrell, composer David Foster, actor Andy Garcia, and writer David Mamet as the 2026 honorees, with the ceremony scheduled for December 7 at the Capital One Arena.
- The ceremony will take place away from the iconic performing arts venue for the first time as President Donald Trump battles federal court over plans to renovate the building and add his name to it.
- Trump's handpicked board voted to close the Kennedy Center, citing 'structural deterioration,' after a federal judge blocked two renaming attempts; his Justice Department argues the center faces collapse without renovation.
- The 2026 honorees include several figures with ties to conservative politics, marking a departure from tradition where presidents of both parties attended regardless of political disagreement until Trump's first term.
- No broadcast partner has been announced after network rights expired in 2025, and uncertainty surrounds whether Trump will host the ceremony, which historically avoided partisan issues but now faces significant political drama.
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37 Articles
Kennedy Center names 2026 lifetime achievement honorees
The Kennedy Center named the 2026 lifetime achievement honorees who will be recognized at the 49th Kennedy Center Honors ceremony at Capital One Arena next month. Singer-songwriter Paul Anka, record producer and composer David Foster, actor Andy Garcia, playwright David Mamet, and singer Barbara Mandrell are the five honorees announced by President Donald Trump and […]
Kennedy Center Honorees Class Of 2026: Anka, Foster, Garcia, Mamet & Mandrell
One day ahead of D.C.’s Big Day, we have the latest recipients of the annual Kennedy Center Honors. This year’s honorees are singer-songwriter Paul Anka, composer David Foster, actor Andy Garcia, playwright David Mamet and country singer Barbara Mandrell. See their full bios below. The honors celebrate the lifetime contributions of influential artists in music, […]
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