Jazz musician Chuck Redd, who has hosted the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam for nearly two decades, announced the cancellation after discovering that Trump’s name had been added to the Kennedy Center’s branding. The annual concert, a holiday tradition since 2006, was scheduled to take place as usual this year but was abruptly scrapped in protest.
Redd, a drummer and vibraphonist, explained that he made the decision as soon as he noticed the name change appear on both the Kennedy Center’s website and the building itself. Speaking to the Associated Press, he said that seeing the venue rebranded prompted him to pull the plug on the performance, despite its long history and loyal audience.
The Kennedy Center’s website now lists the free Christmas Eve Jazz Jam as canceled for 2025. The show had been advertised as an afternoon event designed to bring festive cheer through live jazz music. In a separate statement to CNN, Redd confirmed that he canceled the concert immediately after learning of the rebranding effort.
“I’ve been performing at the Kennedy Center since the very start of my career,” Redd said, adding that he was deeply disappointed by the decision to alter the institution’s name, which honors former President John F. Kennedy.
The controversy erupted after Donald J. Trump’s name was placed above Kennedy’s on the exterior of the building, triggering widespread criticism. Ohio Democratic Representative Joyce Beatty responded by filing a lawsuit against the board of trustees, arguing that federal law prohibits the center from being dedicated to anyone other than Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963. Kennedy’s niece, Kerry Kennedy, has also stated that she intends to have Trump’s name removed once he leaves office.
This is not the first Kennedy Center dispute this year. Several artists, including Issa Rae, have canceled appearances in protest of Trump’s appointment as chairman of the board, citing concerns over the institution’s values and legacy.
