The cancellation followed the withdrawal of the event’s longtime host, jazz drummer and vibraphonist Chuck Redd, who had led the concert since 2006. Redd assumed the role after the death of bassist William Keter Betts and became a central figure in shaping the event’s identity.

In comments to the Associated Press, Redd said his decision to step away stemmed from personal concerns related to recent changes at the Kennedy Center. After learning of a rebranding effort that added former President Donald Trump’s name alongside the center’s original dedication, Redd said he no longer felt comfortable continuing as host this year.

That rebranding move has ignited wider controversy well beyond the jazz community.

The Kennedy Center was created by Congress in the 1960s as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy after his assassination, and its name carries both legal and symbolic weight. Legal scholars and former officials have pointed out that federal law restricts the board’s ability to alter the memorial’s name without congressional approval. Members of the Kennedy family have voiced objections, while Trump said he was surprised by the change and characterized it as an honor. The issue has since drawn heightened public attention and political debate.

The loss of the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam is part of a broader pattern.

In recent months, other artists—including Issa Rae and Peter Wolf—have withdrawn from scheduled appearances as shifts in leadership and board composition reshaped the institution. A federal lawsuit brought by board member Joyce Beatty argues that only Congress has the authority to approve any change to the memorial’s name.

While Kennedy Center officials insist the rebranding does not alter the original intent of the tribute, the absence of this year’s holiday jazz concert has become a visible symbol of how institutional decisions can ripple outward—bringing even long-standing cultural traditions to an unexpected pause.