Kennedy Center Honors fete performers

US President Donald Trump will solidify his takeover of Washington's John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Sunday when he hosts its annual flagship event.



This year's Kennedy Center Honors, widely seen as the top U.S. recognition for achievement in performing arts, will fete actor Sylvester Stallone, disco singer Gloria Gaynor, country musician George Strait, "Phantom of the Opera" star Michael Crawford and rock band KISS.



Trump, who had a hand in picking the recipients, did not attend Kennedy Center events during his first term.



But he has taken a keen interest in the institution during his second, firing its president, installing a new board that made him chair and ordering a renovation of the building.



The Kennedy Center's new president, Ric Grenell, who once served as Trump's ambassador to Germany, is overseeing the performing arts complex's multi-million-dollar renovation and revamping the organization's events, including hosting the World Cup final draw on Friday.



Grenell's tenure has been marked by staff turnover and discontent in the arts community about its direction.



At the Oval Office on Saturday, Trump praised this year's honorees and gave them newly designed gold medallions with blue ribbons, rather than the rainbow-colored ribbons used since 1978 to represent the spectrum of performing arts.