Sylvester Stallone will be honored this December with a Kennedy Center Award, a milestone in a career that spans more than five decades in film and television. Stallone told Fox News Digital that receiving the Kennedy Center Honor was never something he planned for himself, calling the recognition, "it's such a shock and revelation. It's something I didn't expect, ever. And now I don't know what to do," he said.
In addition to Stallone, the 48th Kennedy Center Honors will recognize country star George Strait, the rock band KISS, English actor Michael Crawford and iconic singer Gloria Gaynor, known for hits like "I Will Survive." President Donald Trump, who is chairing the Kennedy Center this year, has signaled a push to remake the program into a glitzier, star-studded celebration. In a contemporaneous speech, Trump said, "The 48th Kennedy Center Honorees are outstanding people, incredible, we can't wait… in a few short months since I became chairman of the board, the Kennedy Center, we've completely reversed the decline of this cherished national institution."
In August, Trump publicly announced the honorees for the 2025 ceremony and explained that he personally greenlit each honoree, adding that some candidates did not make the cut. "I turned down plenty, they were too woke… I had a couple of wokesters. No, we have great people. This is very different than it used to be," he said. Trump, who has used the role to shape the program, reiterated that he was "very involved" in the selection process.
Stallone, meanwhile, discussed his hit TV series "Tulsa King" and said the role represents the closest alignment to his own personality that he has explored on screen. "It's as close as I'm ever going to come to showing who I am, my real personality. That's how I would react. It was an experiment. This is pretty much me as a gangster," he told Fox News Digital. The show is preparing for its third season, which premieres this Sunday, September 21, on Paramount+.
The Kennedy Center Honors have long been a subject of public interest, blending performances and reflection on a lifetime of achievement in the arts. As the center seeks a broader, more high-profile stage for its annual ceremony, Stallone’s inclusion adds to a lineup that reflects decades of influence across genres—from cinema to rock to television. Trump’s tenure as chairman has coincided with a broader push to amplify star power at the event while defending a selection approach that emphasizes recognizable cultural milestones.
Images:
As the December ceremony approaches, questions about the program’s direction and its evolving audience remain in the spotlight. Stallone’s reflections on his career and his teenage years of hard work behind the scenes offer a reminder that honors are as much about enduring influence as about a single moment on stage. The other honorees—Strait, KISS, Crawford and Gaynor—represent a blend of genres and generations that underscores the Kennedy Center’s mission to recognize contributions across the arts.
Trump’s remarks in August and in subsequent discussions about the ceremony have drawn attention to his hands-on approach to assembling the lineup. While some critics have questioned the emphasis on celebrity spectacle, supporters argue the move helps attract broader audiences to a flagship cultural institution.
Stallone’s ongoing projects, including his memoir-titled exploration "How Rocky Happened: 1969 to the Oscars," reflect a life dedicated to storytelling from the gritty beginnings to iconic triumphs. As he nears his Kennedy Center moment, he also looks ahead to further projects and the next chapter of his career, underscoring that the honors, while meaningful, sit within a long arc of work that has shaped popular culture for generations.
Fox News Digital's coverage of Stallone’s remarks and the Kennedy Center’s announcements continues to be a focal point for entertainment news as viewers anticipate December’s ceremony and the broader conversations about how the arts celebrate achievement in the 21st century.