Béla Fleck withdrew from an upcoming Kennedy Center concert with the National Symphony Orchestra, calling the engagement "charged and political." Clarinetist Lin Ma will replace him. Interim President Richard Grenell accused Fleck of "caving to the woke mob," and other performers have also canceled since the board voted to rename the Center after Donald Trump and John F. Kennedy. Kennedy family members have publicly disputed the legitimacy of the renaming vote.
Béla Fleck Pulls Out Of Kennedy Center Concert, Citing 'Charged And Political' Climate
Béla Fleck cancels Kennedy Center show
Grammy-winning banjoist Béla Fleck has withdrawn from a scheduled performance with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center, saying the engagement had become "charged and political." The concert was scheduled for next month.
"I look forward to playing with the NSO another time in the future when we can together share and celebrate art," Fleck wrote in a Tuesday Instagram post.
The Kennedy Center's online schedule now lists clarinetist Lin Ma as Fleck's replacement on the program.
Interim Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell responded on X, accusing Fleck of having "caved to the woke mob" and saying the institution "believes all people are welcome — Democrats and Republicans and people uninterested in politics." Grenell added that the Center seeks performers who focus on entertaining broad audiences rather than taking political stances.
Fleck's decision is the latest in a series of cancellations since the administration assumed control of the arts institution and the board's November vote to rename it the "The Donald J. Trump and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts." Performers who have publicly canceled engagements include the cast of Hamilton and composer Stephen Schwartz, known for Wicked.
Members of President Kennedy's family have sharply criticized the renaming process. Jack Schlossberg, a grandson of President Kennedy, said the board meeting was improperly handled and that "microphones were muted and the board meeting and vote NOT unanimous." Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) argued on X that the center is a federal memorial named for President Kennedy by law and suggested the renaming raises legal and ethical questions.
The Kennedy Center has updated its performance listings but has not issued a new public statement addressing the string of withdrawals or the family objections. The episode underscores growing tensions between artists, cultural institutions and political leadership over governance, naming rights and the role of the arts in public life.
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