Kennedy Center ordered to pay $250,000 to jazz musician it sued after he cancelled performance

The Kennedy Center has been ordered to pay $250,000 to jazz musician Chuck Redd after unsuccessfully suing him for cancelling a performance in protest of Donald Trump's name being added to the venue.

A judge ruled in Redd's favour after the Kennedy Center sued him over his decision to withdraw from its annual Christmas Eve jazz concert. Redd had performed at the event for roughly two decades before cancelling his 2025 appearance.

The dispute began after the Kennedy Center's board voted to add Trump's name to the performing arts centre. Redd subsequently backed out of the concert, prompting the Kennedy Center to pursue legal action against him.

The venue had sought $1 million in damages, arguing that Redd had breached his contractual obligations by cancelling the performance. The case was ultimately dismissed, with the court finding that the Kennedy Center had not established that Redd was legally required to perform at the 2025 concert.

Redd's legal team then sought reimbursement for the costs of defending the lawsuit. The court has now ordered the Kennedy Center to pay $250,000 in attorneys' fees and costs, meaning the institution will have to pay the musician after its legal effort against him failed.

Redd's cancellation was part of a wave of artists withdrawing from Kennedy Center performances following changes made under Trump's leadership. His decision became particularly notable after the venue's leadership publicly criticised him and threatened substantial damages over the cancellation.

The latest ruling marks another setback for the Kennedy Center in its legal dispute with Redd, turning a lawsuit that initially sought money from the musician into an order requiring the centre to compensate him instead.