Béla Fleck Steps Back from Kennedy Center Shows

Béla Fleck, a famous banjo player with 18 Grammy Awards, has decided to cancel his upcoming shows with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. He shared his decision on social media, explaining that performing there has become too political. Fleck believes the Kennedy Center should focus on music, not politics, and hopes to play there again when the focus is back on art. The Kennedy Center's president, Richard Grenell, responded on X, saying Fleck made the situation political by canceling. Grenell claimed the center welcomes everyone and wants performers who avoid politics. Fleck later replied, saying the center was already political and that music should be about expression and inclusivity.Recently, the Kennedy Center has seen many changes. In February 2025, former president Deborah Rutter and other board members were replaced. The new board, which includes figures like Usha Vance and Laura Ingraham, voted to add President Trump's name to the center. This move has faced legal challenges from Democratic Congresswoman Joyce Beatty. Fleck is not the only artist to cancel shows at the Kennedy Center. Others, like Stephen Schwartz, Chuck Redd, and The Cookers, have also withdrawn their performances. This wave of cancellations started when Trump announced his plans to oversee the center, leading to the withdrawal of shows like Hamilton and performances by Rhiannon Giddens and Issa Rae.