Kennedy Center President Demands $1M from Jazz Musician Who Canceled Christmas Eve Show Over Renaming

The president of the Kennedy Center, Richard Grenell, is demanding $1 million in damages from Chuck Redd after the jazz musician canceled his scheduled Christmas Eve performance at the venue.

The cancellation came shortly after the center’s board voted unanimously on December 18 to rename the institution the “Trump-Kennedy Center” in honor of President Donald Trump’s efforts to support the arts.

Grenell accused Redd of engaging in a “political stunt” that inflicted financial harm on the nonprofit organization.