A Washington judge has ordered the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to pay over $250,000 US in legal fees to jazz musician Chuck Redd after a lawsuit accusing him of breach of contract was thrown out. The center had previously sued Redd for cancelling his role as host of their annual Christmas Eve concert due to the addition of Donald Trump's name to the building's facade. This comes months after another judge ruled that Trump's name was illegally added to the Kennedy Center, and several high-profile figures have since dissociated from the center or cancelled appearances. The Kennedy Center plans to appeal this latest decision.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A US federal judge had previously ruled that Donald Trump's name was added to the Kennedy Center illegally. Months later, a Washington judge threw out the Kennedy Center's lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd, who had backed out of hosting the center's Christmas Eve concert in 2025 due to the center's decision to add Trump's name to its building. The judge ruled that the center's breach of contract suit was invalid, and now the center has been ordered to pay $250K US in legal fees to Redd. This comes after the center had threatened to sue Redd for a million dollars in damages, calling his decision to cancel the concert "classic intolerance" and a "legal stunt."
Written for “Trump Jazz Concert Controversy” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.70 for article 716 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-27
Kennedy Center ordered to pay over $250K US to jazz musician who cancelled over Trump rebrand
Centre’s breach of contract suit against the musician was thrown out in June
asserted
suit → order → June
A Washington judge has ordered the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to pay jazz musician Chuck Redd more than $250,000 US in legal fees.
asserted
judge → order → fees
The ruling comes just months after that same judge, Tanya Jones Bosier of the District of Columbia Superior Court, tossed the centre’s lawsuit accusing Redd of breach of contract.
asserted
judge → come → contract
In 2025, Redd, an American drummer and vibraphonist whose legal name is Charles, backed out of his longtime role as host of the centre’s annual free Christmas Eve concert — in response to the centre’s controversial decision to add Donald Trump’s name to the building’s white marble portico.
asserted
name → back → portico
"No citizen should have to spend time and money fending off baseless and politically motivated lawsuits filed by the Trump Administration," Redd’s lawyer Lisa J. Banks told CBC News in a statement.
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lawyer → have → statement
Redd has hosted and performed at the centre’s annual free Christmas Eve concerts for years.
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Redd → host → years
But last year, he dropped out of the planned gig days in advance after Trump's name was fixed onto the facade of the building.
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name → drop → building
After he cancelled, the centre threatened to sue Redd writing, "Your decision to withdraw at the last moment — explicitly in response to the Center’s recent renaming, which honors President Trump’s extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure — is classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution," and noting they'd seek $1 million US in damages, calling it a "legal stunt."
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they → cancel → it
The centre followed through — though that suit was later dismissed by the Washington judge on the grounds the centre had failed to state a valid breach of contract claim, per legal documents reviewed by CBC News.
uncertain
centre → follow → News
What went down
A U.S. federal judge ruled in May that Trump's name had been illegally added to the Kennedy Center.
uncertain
name → go → Center
That ruling stems from an ongoing conflict kicked off when Trump took control of the centre, firing longtime Kennedy Center chair David Rubinstein in February.
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Trump → stem → February
"I have decided to immediately terminate multiple individuals from the Board of Trustees, including the Chairman, who do not share our Vision for a Golden Age in Arts and Culture," Trump said in a social media post at the time.
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Trump → decide → time
Since the change, several figures in arts and culture have dissociated from the centre or cancelled planned appearances, including Canadian Author Louise Penny, Shonda Rimes and Issa Rae.
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figures → dissociate → Penny
The letters spelling out Trump's name on the facade of the Kennedy Center are gone now, the centre confirmed in June.
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centre → spell → June
Though at the time, a tarp continued to hang over the scaffolding constructed for workers, making it impossible to immediately detect whether the only words remaining were "The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts."
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words → continue → Arts
Centre plans to appeal
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Centre → plan → ?
A spokesperson for The Kennedy Center told CBC News in an email that the centre intends to appeal the decision.
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centre → tell → decision
Meanwhile, Redd’s lawyers called the judge's decision "appropriate."
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lawyers → call → decision
The Trump-controlled Kennedy Center tried to silence opposition to its illegal name change by filing a meritless lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd."
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Center → control → Redd
The Washington institution hosts more than 2,000 events annually and is the official residence of the National Symphony Orchestra and the Washington National Opera.
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institution → host → Orchestra
