Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sonia De Los Santos has decided to cancel her scheduled concert appearances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., marking the latest in a succession of notable performers withdrawing from the venue. Initially planned were two concerts aimed at young audiences set for February 7, followed by a session described as a "creative conversation" involving the audience.
De Los Santos, who has Mexican American roots and gained acclaim with her 2018 album "¡Alegría!" which earned a Latin Grammy nomination in the children’s album category, addressed the cancellations via Instagram. She emphasized her commitment to storytelling through music, particularly stories reflecting the immigrant experience in the United States.
“As an artist, I treasure the freedom to create and share my music, and for many years I have used this privilege to uplift the stories of immigrants in this country,” De Los Santos wrote. “Unfortunately, I do not feel that the current climate at this beloved venue represents a welcoming space for myself, my band, or our audience.”
When contacted by The Associated Press, De Los Santos referred to her Instagram statement and declined further comment.
In response, Roma Daravi, a spokesperson for the Kennedy Center, questioned the artist's reference to immigration policy concerns. Daravi, identifying as a first-generation American, expressed personal offense to De Los Santos’ characterization of the center’s environment and asserted that avoiding engagement with an institution open to all constitutes a discriminatory act.
“This country was built on legal immigrants and as a first generation American, I find her statement highly offensive,” Daravi stated in an email. “Refusing to engage with an institution open to everyone is, in fact, a step towards discrimination.”
This fallout at the Kennedy Center follows a broader pattern since President Donald Trump assumed direct control over the board of trustees after removing prior leadership in early 2025. Trump has repeatedly spotlighted the Kennedy Center in his broader campaign against what he critiqued as "woke" biases within cultural venues.
Several artists, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator of "Hamilton," and rock musician Peter Wolf, have canceled their planned events at the Kennedy Center amid the evolving political landscape surrounding the institution.
The board’s controversial December decision to rename the center to the Trump-Kennedy Center—despite legal and scholarly opinions indicating such a change requires Congressional approval—further fueled cancellations. Notable musicians such as jazz artist Chuck Redd and the jazz ensemble The Cookers withdrew from previously scheduled holiday concerts.
Adding to the cancellations, Grammy-winning banjoist Bela Fleck recently announced he would forgo three National Symphony Orchestra performances at the center next month. Fleck described the venue as having become a "charged and political" environment. Ric Grenell, a diplomat aligned with Trump and appointed by him to lead the Kennedy Center, criticized Fleck's decision on social media platform X, asserting Fleck succumbed to political pressure from what Grenell termed the "woke mob."
Other notable artists who have revoked commitments include Stephen Schwartz, composer known for "Wicked," who was slated to host a spring opera gala, and the variety troupe Asian AF, whose May performances were first marked as canceled on the Kennedy Center's website and subsequently removed entirely. Spokesperson Roma Daravi attributed the removal to "scheduling conflicts," while representatives for Asian AF did not respond to requests for comments.
These developments underscore a complex intersection of politics, culture, and artistic expression at one of the nation’s most prominent performing arts centers, revealing tensions that affect programming and artist participation.