Kennedy Center Ordered to Pay $252,480 to Jazz Musician in Dismissed Lawsuit

A Washington, D.C., judge has ordered the Kennedy Center to pay jazz musician Chuck Redd $252,479.70 in legal fees and costs, concluding a lawsuit the arts institution brought against him after he canceled a performance. The ruling, issued by D.C. Superior Court Judge Tanya M. Jones Bosier on August 11, 2026, stems from the center's breach-of-contract case against Redd, which was dismissed in June.

The dispute began in December 2025 when Redd, who had hosted the Kennedy Center's annual Christmas Eve Jazz Jam since 2006, canceled his scheduled appearance for December 24. He cited the center's decision to add President Donald Trump's name to the building's facade. The Kennedy Center, under then-President Richard Grenell, responded by suing Redd for $1 million, alleging he violated a "morals clause" and caused financial and reputational harm.

In her June 5, 2026, dismissal, Judge Bosier found the center had no valid breach-of-contract claim. She noted that Redd had never signed a 2025 performance agreement and that the concert was free to the public, meaning the center incurred no lost ticket revenue. The judge also observed that the entire event was ultimately canceled because...