Interesting crop of nominees this year: Very few regrettable artists, and, finally, a strong move away from the dad rock inclusions of the recent past, like Bad Company and Foreigner.
Should Get In
Joy
Division/New Order – innovators who are overdue
Iron
Maiden – Not my jam, but come on
Mariah
Carey – Hard to argue against
Lauryn Hill
– I’d prefer the Fugees, but absolutely
Wu-Tang
Clan – indisputably important rap group
Oasis –
one of the most popular and influential 90s rock bands
Melissa
Etheridge – more female representation, please… (where is Alanis? Fiona Apple?
Liz Phair??)
Strong Second-Place – not at all mad if these make it in, instead
Luther
Vandross – legendary, and probably overdue, as well
Shakira
– Sure! Why not?
Sade –
keeps getting nominated, but hasn’t made it yet
Phil
Collins – Not my cuppa, but undeniably popular
Jeff
Buckley – a brilliant one-album wonder
Pink –
I…guess? She’s a Max Martin project, but if you’re going to put one in… It’s sort
of like choosing which artists from the Disco era are in there. I mean, you
have to have a few…
Billy
Idol – he’s fun, good songs, why not
Meh/Bleh
INXS – if
they get in before Joy Division/New Order, I’ll be annoyed
New
Edition – I had to look these guys up – I guess they were influential for bands
like Boyz II Men? Do we want to reward that?
The
Black Crowes – Seriously, stop trying to make ‘fetch’ happen.
MEANWHILE…
How’s that Kennedy Center doing?
Since the President decided to take it over and ruin it: not well. And now it’s going to be closed for two years, which… I don’t know if they’re even going to have the Honors in 2026. 2025’s weren’t as bad as I’d feared (I speak for the people honored, not the god-awful Trump-emceed farce of a program). Strait was probably the strongest, since Gaynor, Kiss, and Stallone are all pretty second-tier. And Michael Crawford was just weirdly out-of-place.
Unfortunately, one of the legends I wanted to win just passed away: Willie Colon. Salsa, therefore, just lost one of the biggest names that should have been honored. Reflecting these changes, here’s my updated list:
Richards (82), Jagger (82), and Wood (78).
1. The Rolling Stones. Essential rock band who recorded
Exile on Main Street, Let It Bleed, and Sticky Fingers. Famous songs include
“Satisfaction,” “Gimme Shelter,” “Miss You”.
Prior Kennedy Center Honorees: The Who, Led Zeppelin, The
Eagles.
Alternate: Public Enemy.
Neil Young, 80.
2. Neil Young. Singer-songwriter known for his work with
Crosby, Stills, and Nash and Crazy Horse. Famous songs include “Heart of Gold,”
“Like a Hurricane,” “Rockin’ in the Free World”.
Prior Kennedy Center Honorees: Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Bruce
Springsteen.
Alternate: Van Morrison.
Glenn Close, 78.
3. Glenn Close. Iconic actress nominated for eight Oscars,
and winner of many Emmys and Tonys. Performances include The Big Chill, Fatal
Attraction, and The Wife.
Prior Kennedy Center Honorees: Meryl Streep, Sally Fields,
Shirley MacLaine.
Alternate: Faye Dunaway.
Rueben Blades, 77.
5. Rueben Blades. Salsa pioneer – a musical format that is
so far unrepresented by the Honors – and one of the last men standing of the
famed Fania Records. Winner of a slew of Grammys.
Prior Kennedy Center Honorees: Gloria Estefan, Linda
Ronstadt, Wayne Shorter.
Alternate: Ismael Miranda.
Alan Menken, 76.
4. Alan Menken. Composer of film scores including Beauty
and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas. EGOT-winner who provided the music for
the Disney Renaissance and Broadway shows.
Prior Kennedy Center Honorees: John Williams, Andrew Lloyd
Weber, Stephen Sondheim.
Alternate: Hans Zimmer.
Denzel Washington, 71.
6. Denzel Washington. One of the finest actors of a
generation, winning multiple Oscars, a Tony, and many more. Also was presented
with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Prior Kennedy Center Honorees: Sidney Poitier, James Earl
Jones, Morgan Freeman.
Alternate: Samuel L. Jackson
Whoopi Goldberg, 70.
7. Whoopi Goldberg. Actress and comedienne from The Sister
Act, The Color Purple, Ghost. EGOT winner, now known for her television role on
The View.
Prior Kennedy Center Honorees: Lily Tomlin, Carol Burnett,
Lucille Ball.
Alternate: Julia Louis-Dreyfus.
Daniel Day-Lewis, 68.
8. Daniel Day-Lewis. Actor from My Left Foot, There Will Be
Blood, and Lincoln. Generally regarded as one of the best actors of the past
thirty years, with three Oscars.
Prior Kennedy Center Honorees: Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro,
Dustin Hoffman.
Alternate: Leonardo DiCaprio.
Aaron Sorkin, 64.
9. Aaron Sorkin. Screenwriter and playwright known for A
Few Good Men, The West Wing, and The Social Network. Author known for his
quick, witty dialogue and prestige drama movies.
Prior Kennedy Center Honorees: Neil Simon, Norman Lear,
Edward Albee.
Alternate: Tony Kushner.
Audra McDonald, 55.
10. Audra McDonald. Broadway actress and singer known for
“A Raisin in the Sun,” “Porgy and Bess,” and “Ragtime”. Has won more Tony
awards than any other person.
Prior Kennedy Center Honorees: Helen Hayes, Mary Martin,
Julie Andrews.
Alternate: Bernadette Peters.
