George Strait’s 2025 Kennedy Center Honor: Tribute, Performers and More
George Strait received one of the nation’s highest artistic honors, with Vince Gill, Brooks & Dunn, and Miranda Lambert helping celebrate his career.
Written by Amanda Tempel
Last Updated: September 6, 2026
George Strait received a 2025 Kennedy Center Honor, joining a select group of country music artists recognized for their lifetime contributions to the performing arts.
The “King of Country Music” was part of the 48th Kennedy Center Honors class alongside KISS, Tony Award-winning stage and screen star Michael Crawford, Grammy-winning singer Gloria Gaynor, and actor Sylvester Stallone. The ceremony was held December 7, 2025, at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, D.C., and aired December 23 on CBS.
Strait’s Kennedy Center Honor added another major career achievement to a résumé that includes more than 100 million RIAA certifications and decades of success in country music. His official awards history now lists the Kennedy Center Honors among his 2025 achievements.
George Strait’s Kennedy Center Honors Tribute
Several country artists helped salute Strait during the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors.
Vince Gill performed “Troubadour,” Brooks & Dunn performed “Amarillo by Morning,” and Miranda Lambert performed “Run.”
The appearances brought together artists with long-standing connections to Strait and highlighted songs from different points in his career.
Did George Strait Turn Down the Kennedy Center Honors?
No. George Strait did not turn down the 2025 Kennedy Center Honor. He attended the December ceremony and accepted the recognition. The Kennedy Center also released footage of Strait discussing what receiving the honor meant to him.
Who Were the 2025 Kennedy Center Honorees?
The 2025 Kennedy Center Honors recognized George Strait, KISS, Michael Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, and Sylvester Stallone for their contributions to American arts and culture.
Strait became another country music artist to join the Kennedy Center Honors' long history of recognizing performers from the genre.
Country Music Artists Who Have Received Kennedy Center Honors
2025 – George Strait
2020 – Garth Brooks
2019 – Linda Ronstadt
2018 – Reba McEntire
2010 – Merle Haggard
2008 – George Jones
2006 – Dolly Parton
2003 – Loretta Lynn
1998 – Willie Nelson
1996 – Johnny Cash
1991 – Roy Acuff
George Strait's Kennedy Center Honor places him alongside some of country music's most influential artists and adds another lifetime achievement to one of the most decorated careers in the genre.