Kristy Lee Pulls Out of Kennedy Center Over Political Branding
Mobile, AL — Alabama songwriter Kristy Lee has announced the cancellation of her upcoming performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts citing concerns for institutional integrity.
The Kennedy Center was established by Congress as a nonpartisan national cultural institution, honoring President John F. Kennedy’s belief that the arts are essential to democracy, free expression, and the public good. Recent efforts to impose political branding on the Center represent a departure from that mission and compromise the independence such an institution requires.
As an artist, Kristy believes publicly funded cultural spaces must remain free from political capture, self-promotion, or ideological pressure. Performing under these circumstances would conflict with the values of artistic freedom, public trust, and constitutional principles that the Kennedy Center was created to uphold.
This decision is not directed at the Center’s dedicated staff, artists, or patrons, whose work and commitment to the arts remain deeply respected. Rather, it is a statement in defense of the Center’s founding purpose and the ethical responsibility shared by artists who grace its stage.
The Kennedy Center is more than a venue—it is a living memorial to a fallen president. “The Center was created to honor art, culture, and shared national purpose,” Kristy said. “Using it for personal promotion diminishes its meaning and erodes the dignity owed to the legacy of a fallen president.”
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Missy Sebastian
