Legendary Singer Gloria Gaynor Receives 48th Kennedy Center Honor! Here Are the Details

Liputan6.com, Jakarta Legendary singer Gloria Gaynor will be among the recipients of the prestigious 48th Kennedy Center Honor in late 2025.

This national celebration of the arts will take place in Washington, D.C., this coming December.

The announcement was made by President Donald Trump on August 13, 2025, who will also serve as master of ceremonies.

In addition to Gloria Gaynor, other notable figures such as Sylvester Stallone, the band KISS, George Strait, and Michael Crawford will also receive similar honors.

Stallone was earlier named by Trump as one of his ambassadors to Hollywood. “He’s a very special guy. A real talent, never been given credit for the talent,” Trump added about the Hollywood actor during an hourlong press conference Wednesday.

The president also recalled Crawford making his Broadway debut in 1967. “I was there. I shouldn’t say that. But I was there. Seems like a long time ago,” Trump added.

President Trump's role as master of ceremonies marks a significant change from the tradition of this annual event.

The star-studded celebration is scheduled for Sunday, December 7, on the stage of the Kennedy Center Opera House.

Congratulations to our Honorees for the 48th Kennedy Center Honors:Michael Crawford Gloria Gaynor Sylvester Stallone KISSGeorge Strait pic.twitter.com/EOi50CEozY

— The Kennedy Center (@kencen) August 13, 2025

According to its official website, The Kennedy Center Honors recognizes and celebrates individuals whose unique contributions to the arts have shaped our world. 

These honorees have impacted American life and culture through the performing arts. 

Whether in music, dance, theater, opera, film, or television, each Kennedy Center Honoree holds a unique place in the fabric of our nation, and their influence has inspired audiences from all walks of life.

It is one of the highest honors in the arts in the United States.

“For nearly half a century, this tradition has celebrated those whose voices and visions tell our nation’s story and share it with the world. This year’s Honorees have left an indelible mark on our history, reminding us that the arts are for everyone.”

Gloria Gaynor, the disco icon known for "I Will Survive," will be immortalized in American arts history with the 48th Kennedy Center Honor.

The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, December 7, at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C.

The event is traditionally broadcast by CBS and will also be available for streaming on Paramount+.

Along with Gloria Gaynor, this year's list of honorees spans a wide range of genres and artistic fields.

The presence of Sylvester Stallone from film, KISS from rock, George Strait from country music, and Michael Crawford from musical theater.

Gloria Gaynor, born Gloria Fowles on September 7, 1943, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress with a distinguished career spanning more than five decades.

She is widely recognized as a disco icon, with her powerful voice and uplifting songs.

Gaynor graduated from South Side High School in Newark in 1961.

Gloria Gaynor's musical career peaked with hits like "I Will Survive" (1978), which sold nearly 15 million copies and won the first Grammy for Best Disco Recording in 1980.

The song was also included in Rolling Stone magazine's list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" and was number one on VH1's list of "100 Greatest Dance Songs of All Time.

"In addition to "I Will Survive," other songs like "Never Can Say Goodbye" (1974), "Let Me Know (I Have a Right)" (1979), and "I Am What I Am" (1983) also cemented her position as a disco star.

In January 2020, Gloria Gaynor earned her second Grammy Award for her gospel album, Testimony, which won Best Roots Gospel Album.

"I Am What I Am" (1984) became an anthem for the LGBTQ+ community during the AIDS pandemic.

Gloria Gaynor also pursued an acting career, appearing on television and Broadway, and published a Grammy-nominated memoir and inspirational book.