Chuck Redd faced litigation after pulling out of a Christmas Eve concert in protest of the venue adding Donald Trump's name to its moniker.
A person walks under the sign for The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts on June 5, 2026 in Washington, DC.
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A judge has ruled that the Kennedy Center must reimburse jazz musician Chuck Redd for a failed lawsuit over his decision to pull out of a concert at the historic venue after President Donald Trump’s name was added to the building.
Judge Tanya M. Jones Bosier in Washington, D.C., awarded more than $250,000 in legal fees to Redd on Monday (Aug. 10), two months after she dismissed the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ breach of contract claims against him. A spokesperson for the national performing arts venue, which Trump has chaired since early 2025, told Billboard that they intend to appeal the fee amount. Redd’s attorneys did not immediately return a request for comment.
