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2025 Kennedy Centre Honors Viewership Plummets During Trump’s Hosting
Overview
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors, hosted by donald Trump, experienced its lowest viewership in history, drawing 3.01 million viewers on CBS. This represents a meaningful decline from the 4.1 million viewers who watched the 2024 ceremony. The event, held on December 21, 2025, and broadcast on December 22, 2025, honored Garth Brooks, Gloria Estefan, Nile Rodgers, and Billy joel.
Viewership Numbers: A dramatic Drop
Nielsen data revealed a substantial decrease in viewership.The 3.01 million viewers in 2025 compare unfavorably to the 4.1 million who tuned in for the 2024 kennedy Center Honors. this represents a decrease of approximately 26.8%.
| Year | Viewership (Millions) | Change from Previous Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 4.1 | – |
| 2025 | 3.01 | -26.8% |
Donald Trump had predicted strong ratings for the broadcast,a claim that proved inaccurate. Consequence reported on Trump’s prior statements.
The Honorees
The 2025 Kennedy Center honors celebrated the achievements of four prominent figures in the arts:
- Garth Brooks: Contry music superstar known for his record-breaking album sales and energetic live performances.
- Gloria Estefan: Cuban-American singer, songwriter, and actress who helped popularize Latin music.
- Nile Rodgers: Guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and composer, influential in the development of disco and funk.
- Billy Joel: Singer-songwriter, pianist, and one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
Consequence provided details on the honorees.
Potential Factors Contributing to the Decline
Several factors could have contributed to the drop in viewership. The presence of Donald Trump as host likely played a role, given the politically polarized climate.Some viewers may have chosen not to watch in protest, while others may have been indifferent. Competition from other programming on the same night could also have been a factor.
