Brief
Kennedy Center hires rock‑manager Rick Canny as artistic director amid Trump takeover
Rick Canny, known for managing rock acts, will lead programming as the center faces legal battles over Trump’s naming push.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has appointed Rick Canny, a manager for rock artists such as Tommy Lee and ZZ Top, as its new artistic director, Rolling Stone reported on Oct. 12.
What happened
Canny will oversee creative direction, booking strategy, pricing, media coverage and industry sponsorships for the center’s marquee events. The appointment comes as the center’s future remains uncertain following President Donald Trump’s effort to rename the historic venue after himself. In 2025 Trump filled the board with pro‑Trump officials and pushed to add his name to the building, prompting protests and a federal judge’s order in May to remove the signage.
What the report adds
Rolling Stone notes that internal documents obtained by NPR show senior Kennedy Center staff, including former senior director of music programming Sammy Miller, expressed concerns about Canny’s fees. The memo cites a $30,000 consulting charge for one month and a $28,000 charge the next month that included first‑class travel between Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
What was said
“Regardless of building closure timelines, the center must continue to curate programming during infrastructure upgrades and deliver a commanding reopening season that brings audiences back and puts the center on stable financial footing,” representatives for the center said in a statement to the New York Times, as quoted by Rolling Stone.
How it came about
The hiring follows a series of legal and political moves that have kept the Kennedy Center in the headlines. Earlier coverage by Felo News detailed the venue’s temporary closure, the blocked name change, and the relocation of the Kennedy Center Honors to Capital One Arena. Those events set the stage for the current staffing change as the center seeks to stabilize programming amid ongoing disputes.
Key facts
- Rick Canny, manager for acts like Tommy Lee and ZZ Top, was hired as artistic director of the Kennedy Center. (rollingstone.com)
- Canny’s consulting fees were reported as $30,000 for one month and $28,000 for the next, including first‑class travel. (rollingstone.com)
- The appointment occurs while President Trump pushes to rename the venue after himself, a move blocked by a federal judge. (rollingstone.com)
Sources
- [1] rollingstone.com — originally reported as “Trump Says Kennedy Center Has Money Issues. It Just Hired a Pricey New Director”
