Cheap Trick Reacts to KISS Receiving the Kennedy Center Honors

Cheap Trick has addressed the criticism surrounding its appearance at last week’s Kennedy Center Honors, where the band performed in tribute to Kiss. The Rockford, Illinois, rock veterans took the stage at the Dec. 7 ceremony to cover Kiss’ enduring anthem “Rock and Roll All Nite,” honoring the group as 2025 Kennedy Center honorees.

Surviving classic-era Kiss members Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, and Peter Criss accepted the award alongside fellow honorees George Strait, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, and Sylvester Stallone. While the performance was intended as a celebration of musical legacy, it quickly became a flashpoint for debate among fans.

The Band Explains Its Decision

In response to the backlash, Cheap Trick stated on social media, clarifying the motivation behind its participation. “We were asked to perform at this year’s Kennedy Center Honors ceremony to pay tribute to our lifelong brothers in Kiss, and to support artists and the arts,” the band said. “We agreed to do it for those reasons, and no others.”

The statement followed criticism focused largely on the optics of appearing at an event associated with President Donald Trump. That reaction intensified after the band shared — and later deleted — an Instagram post from Dec. 8 showing singer Robin Zander and bassist Tom Petersson posing with magician Criss Angel. “Great to see our good friend @crissangel at the Kennedy Center Honors as we honored our brothers in @kissonline over the weekend,” the caption read.

Some fans expressed disappointment in the comments. “So disappointed in you guys,” one user wrote, while another added, “And another supporting white nationalism…,” according to Parade. Others pushed back, arguing that the evening was about honoring musicians, not politics. “Kiss received an award for their achievements as an incredible band,” one supporter commented. “Has nothing to do with the president.”

A Shared History and a Broader Conversation

Cheap Trick’s description of Kiss as “lifelong brothers” reflects a relationship that spans nearly five decades. Cheap Trick opened for Kiss on the band’s 1977 Love Gun tour, and the influence carried into Cheap Trick’s own catalog, including a nod in their 1978 breakthrough single “Surrender”: “Rollin’ numbers, rock and rollin’, got my Kiss records out.”

The controversy underscores an ongoing tension in the music world, where legacy artists often find themselves navigating the intersection of art, public institutions, and political interpretation. For Cheap Trick, the performance appears to have been rooted in history and mutual respect rather than ideology.

As the Kennedy Center Honors continues to celebrate cultural achievement across generations, reactions to this year’s ceremony highlight how even long-standing traditions can become subject to modern scrutiny. For Cheap Trick and Kiss alike, the moment served as both a recognition of decades of influence and a reminder that rock and roll, even in its most ceremonial settings, rarely exists without debate.

The 48th Annual Kennedy Center Honors will air Tuesday, Dec. 23, from 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.