An Alabama artist has announced she’s canceling a show at the Kennedy Center, following a change in the institution’s name to honor President Donald Trump.
Kristy Lee, a singer-songwriter from the Mobile area, had been scheduled to play on the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage Jan. 14. The distribution of tickets for the free show was not scheduled to start until Dec. 31, according to the center’s website.
Parade.com was among the national news outlets taking note of Lee’s decision. Parade said other artists were “reconsidering their appearances following a recent decision by the venue’s board to add President Trump’s name to the historic arts complex,” where signage now reads “The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”
Lee said in a post to fans that “canceling shows hurts. This is how I keep the lights on. But losing my integrity would cost me more than any paycheck.”
“When American history starts getting treated like something you can ban, erase, rename, or rebrand for somebody else’s ego, I can’t stand on that stage and sleep right at night,” she wrote. “America didn’t get built by branding. It got built by people showing up and doing the work.”
“I don’t have much power, and I don’t run with the big dogs who do. I’m just a folk singer from Alabama, slinging songs for a living,” Lee wrote. “Hell, my songs are really just my own diary set to music. They’re not polished or hit songs, but they’re my truth and nobody can take that from me. I’m proud of that. I believe in the power of truth, and I believe in the power of people. And I’m gonna stand on that side forever.”
In a more formal statement on her website, Lee said that the Kennedy Center had been established “as a nonpartisan national cultural institution, honoring President John F. Kennedy’s belief that the arts are essential to democracy, free expression, and the public good.”
“Recent efforts to impose political branding on the Center represent a departure from that mission and compromise the independence such an institution requires,” said the statement. “As an artist, Kristy believes publicly funded cultural spaces must remain free from political capture, self-promotion, or ideological pressure. Performing under these circumstances would conflict with the values of artistic freedom, public trust, and constitutional principles that the Kennedy Center was created to uphold.”
“The Center was created to honor art, culture, and shared national purpose,” Lee said. “Using it for personal promotion diminishes its meaning and erodes the dignity owed to the legacy of a fallen president.”
Roma Daravi, the center’s vice president of public relations, said the name change did not signal a shift in values.
“The Trump Kennedy Center is a true bipartisan institution that welcomes artists and patrons from all backgrounds—great art transcends politics, and America’s cultural center remains committed to presenting popular programming that inspires and resonates with all audiences,” said Daravi.
In her online statement, Lee thanked fans who’d shown their support via donations. “That kind of kindness keeps gas in the tank and songs on the road, and I don’t take it lightly,” she said.
She said that she plans to stream a live show on Jan. 14 instead, “for anyone who wants to watch from their couch. I know money’s tight and travel’s hard right now. Let’s stay connected through the music. Thanks for having my back.”
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