Iconic Kiss Members Celebrate Receiving Kennedy Center Honors

After more than five decades of fire-breathing, stage-stomping rock and roll, the original lineup of Kiss — Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley, and Peter Criss — is officially getting a nod from one of America’s most prestigious cultural institutions. The band has been selected to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, a recognition reserved for those who’ve made a lasting impact on American arts and culture.

“This is what the American dream looks like,” Gene Simmons told TMZ. “We couldn’t be more proud.”

Frontman Paul Stanley echoed the sentiment, adding depth to the band’s journey:

“From day one, Kiss has stood for the idea that anything’s possible if you’re willing to hustle. This honor is more than a personal achievement — it’s for every musician who helped shape this band into what it became.”

Ace Frehley called it a “dream come true,” admitting he never imagined Kiss would receive such a high-profile distinction. Peter Criss kept it short and heartfelt:

“I feel incredibly blessed. This is the highlight of our career.”

Rock Royalty Gets the Presidential Treatment

President Donald Trump will formally present the honor during a ceremony on December 7 in Washington, D.C. The event will later be broadcast on CBS and available for streaming on Paramount+.

Joining Kiss in this year’s class of honorees are country icon George Strait, actor Sylvester Stallone, theater legend Michael Crawford, and disco queen Gloria Gaynor.

During the announcement, Trump praised Kiss as “an incredible band” and highlighted their commercial and cultural impact. “They sold over 100 million records, earned 30 gold albums, and became a global phenomenon,” he said. “And they made a fortune doing it.”

He also teased a “special moment” involving Kiss at the ceremony. While the band isn’t scheduled to perform, all four original members are expected to attend — and according to rock radio personality Eddie Trunk, they might have something unique planned.

Politics, Tradition, and a Presidential Twist

In a break from long-standing tradition, President Trump said he played a hands-on role in selecting this year’s honorees — a process usually left to a bipartisan committee that includes past recipients and cultural leaders.

“I was very involved,” he said. The selections were finalized earlier this week, coinciding with the unexpected resignation of longtime Kennedy Center Honors executive producer Matthew Winer.

Although Trump claimed that political bias wasn’t a factor, he did acknowledge removing some nominees he described as “wokesters.”

The decision to include Kiss may raise a few eyebrows in the classical and theater-heavy world of the Kennedy Center, but one thing is certain: face paint and fireballs are headed to D.C., and the American rock story just got a new chapter.