Opera Star Renee Fleming Joins Exodus from Renamed Kennedy Center
By Reuters | 23 Jan, 2026

The Grammy-winning opera star withdrew from the performance that had been scheduled for May, along with a wave of performer cancellations since Kennedy Center was taken over by Trump.

ionne Warwick, Renee Fleming and Billy Crystal react as they attend the 46th Kennedy Center Honors gala, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, U.S. December 3, 2023. REUTERS/Nathan Howard

Grammy Award-winning opera star Renee Fleming has withdrawn from performances in May at the Kennedy Center, with her withdrawal coming during a wave of cancellations at the Washington institution since its takeover by President Donald Trump.

A message on the Kennedy Center's website said Fleming, who had been scheduled to appear with the National Symphony Orchestra in May, had to withdraw "due to a scheduling conflict."

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Trump named himself chairman of the Kennedy Center and filled its board with his allies last year. In December the institution's board voted to rename it the Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, or Trump Kennedy Center for short.

Since then, many groups and artists have withdrawn from the center, citing the Republican leader's takeover. Democrats, noting that the center's name was established by Congress, have said Trump's rebranding has no force of law. John F. Kennedy's family denounced the renaming move as undermining the slain president's legacy.

KEY QUOTES

"Renee Fleming regrets that, due to a scheduling conflict, she must withdraw from her May 2026 concerts with the NSO," the message on the institution's website said. "A new soloist and repertoire will be announced at a later date, and the remainder of the program remains unchanged."

CONTEXT

Last year, Fleming left her role as artistic adviser-at-large at the center, citing the departures of the institution's previous leadership.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington;)