Sylvester Stallone said he remains in shock after learning he will be honored with a Kennedy Center Award, telling Fox News Digital that the recognition was never something he planned for himself and that he would have done the work for free. He described the moment as a revelation and said he is still trying to process the news while also reflecting on a career that has spanned theater, film and television. The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors mark a milestone in a career defined by box-office franchises and a late-career embrace of television work, including his hit series Tulsa King. Stallone also noted he is writing a book, How Rocky Happened: 1969 to the Oscars, and has been revisiting the chaotic but transformative years that shaped the Rocky saga as he contemplates the next chapters of his career.
The 48th Kennedy Center Honors were announced in August for an upcoming December ceremony. The roster for 2025 includes country legend George Strait, the rock band KISS, English actor Michael Crawford and iconic singer Gloria Gaynor. Kennedy Center Chairman Donald Trump—who has touted a shift toward a glitzier, star-studded celebration—said he was heavily involved in selecting the honorees and that he personally approved each choice. The former president also indicated that some potential honorees were not selected, a note that reflected the center’s evolving approach to the annual tribute.
Stallone described Tulsa King as the closest role to his real personality and as an ongoing experiment in portraying a crime-world figure with a human edge. He acknowledged the pressure inherent in delivering high-quality seasons as the series moves forward, and he stressed that success depends on a strong team behind the scenes. Tulsa King season three is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, September 21, on Paramount+. The actor said the challenge of topping previous seasons mirrors the pressure he felt during the early days of Rocky, underscoring the importance of collaboration, preparation and a shared sense of purpose on set.
In adding to his on-screen work, Stallone’s recognition by the Kennedy Center aligns with a broader cultural moment as the institution seeks to refresh its footprint and appeal. Trump’s remarks about the selection process—framed by his chairmanship—illustrate a broader push to reframe the honors as a contemporary cultural celebration that recognizes achievements across genres while maintaining traditional prestige. The ceremony, set for December, will cap a year in which Stallone and fellow honorees have helped fuse classic cinema and modern television into a single narrative for fans and industry observers alike.
Stallone’s career has long threaded through both film and television, with Tulsa King offering a late-stage, personal lens on the energy and perseverance that defined his early work. The Kennedy Center Honors provide a distinct form of recognition that complements his industry influence, underscoring the cross-generational impact of a career that began in the late 1960s and has since encompassed decades of iconic roles, enduring franchises and acclaimed performances.