Music world shake-up alert! 🎶🚨 Grammy-winning banjo king Béla Fleck is the latest artist to strike a chord of protest against the Kennedy Center's new era under Donald Trump's rule. Fleck had been all set to jam alongside the National Symphony Orchestra in February but hit pause on those plans. Why, you ask? He took to social media to break the news, highlighting that the venue's vibe had turned too political and intense — when the real star should be the music itself, right?
Fleck's not alone in this musical stand-off! Oscar-winning composer Stephen Schwartz — the genius behind Wicked and more — also bailed on a major gig. He was supposed to rock the Washington National Opera Gala in May but waved a firm 'no thanks' to the Center’s new scene. Schwartz told Newsday that the venue doesn't vibe with free artistic expression anymore. Ouch! 🎭✖️
Seems like dropping out is all the rage, and it's got quite the lineup. ✨ Over the past year, there's been a wave of artists pulling the plug on their performances over at the Kennedy Center. It all started when Trump re-engineered the Center's board in early 2025, tossing in a bunch of his own picks and snagging the chairman spot himself. Then, ending last year, the Center got a name makeover to the Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts — yikes!
This led to a list of big-name cancellations 🎤💥. From the jazzy Christmas Eve Jazz Jam and star-studded New York Dance Company performances, to musical maestro Wayne Tucker and folk favorite Kristy Lee — all said ‘nope’ to this scene. Even jazz legend Chuck Redd dropped his long-time Jazz Jam, noting that seeing the new name splashed around was the final straw! 😳
Not to be left out, Lin-Manuel Miranda pulled the plug on a stellar Hamilton revival planned for spring 2026. According to Miranda, the new Trump vibe just doesn’t match what the Kennedy Center once stood for. That's a wrap for this chapter until the vibes align once more! 🎭🌟