More musicians have canceled their upcoming concerts at the Kennedy Center after its board voted to rename the performing arts venue to include President Donald Trump’s name.
The canceled performances to date include shows previously promoted for Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and Jan. 14.
The Cookers, a jazz band that was scheduled to perform Wednesday night, did not cite a specific reason in announcing their decision, but their statement hinted at politics.
“Jazz was born from struggle and from a relentless insistence on freedom: freedom of thought, of expression, and of the full human voice. Some of us have been making this music for many decades, and that history still shapes us,” the statement read. “Our hope is that this moment will leave space for reflection, not resentment.”
Kristy Lee, who was scheduled to perform Jan. 14, announced her cancellation on Instagram, saying canceling shows hurts, “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,” said Lee, who described herself as “just a folk singer from Alabama.”
She said that instead of playing at the Kennedy Center next month, she would play a live show from her home.
In a separate statement on her website, Lee said the cancellation was due to concerns for the center’s “institutional integrity.” She said she “believes publicly funded spaces must remain free from political capture, self-promotion, or ideological pressure.”
“This decision is not directed at the Center’s dedicated staff, artists, or patrons, whose work and commitment to the arts remain deeply respected. Rather, it is a statement in defense of the Center’s founding purpose and the ethical responsibility shared by artists who grace its stage,” the statement read.
The Kennedy Center, Lee and The Cookers did not immediately respond to requests for comment Monday night.
