NEW YORK (AP) — Renée Fleming has withdrawn from two scheduled May appearances at the Kennedy Center, the latest in a wave of cancellations since President Donald Trump ousted the previous leadership and the new leadership's announcement that the venue would be renamed the Trump Kennedy Center.
The Grammy-winning soprano was to have appeared with conductor James Gaffigan and the National Symphony Orchestra. Her decision is unsurprising; a year ago she resigned as “Artistic Advisor at Large,” citing the forced departures of Kennedy Center Chair David Rubenstein and its president, Deborah Rutter. The center itself referred to “a scheduling conflict” as the reason she dropped out of the May concerts.
“A new soloist and repertoire will be announced at a later date, and the remainder of the program remains unchanged,” reads a statement on the Kennedy Center web site that was posted this week. Fleming did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bela Fleck and Issa Rae are among the many other artists who have called off events at the Kennedy Center, which has been part of Trump's broader attack on what he calls “woke” culture. Earlier this month, the Washington National Opera announced it was severing ties with the Kennedy Center, where it had performed since 1971.
The musical presenters Vocal Arts DC, who earlier this week called off three Kennedy Center concerts because of “financial circumstances,” announced Friday they had found new venues for such scheduled performers as tenor Benjamin Bernheim and pianist Carrie-Ann Matheson. Bernheim and Matheson will appear next month at George Washington University, where the Washington National Opera is staging two operas this spring.
FILE - Singer Renee Fleming speaks after receiving a Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)
FILE - Workers add President Donald Trump's name to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts, after a Trump-appointed board voted to rename the institution, in Washington, Dec. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
ATLANTA (AP) — The Phoenix Suns lost guards Devin Booker and Jalen Green to injuries in a 110-103 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
Booker, a four-time All-Star, went down with 5 seconds remaining in the third quarter after rolling his ankle on the foot of Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu. He was on the floor for several minutes before walking to the training room under his own power — albeit limping and appearing to be in significant pain.
“Right ankle, rolled it on someone else’s foot. Pretty unlucky, so we’ll just have to take a look when we get back to Phoenix,” Suns coach Jordan Ott said. “Book really figured it out in the third quarter. It felt like, you know, he’d been doing so much for us all season long and then there he was in his flow state. That’s the tough part about it, but I know he bounces back incredibly fast.”
Booker scored 31 points in 28 minutes before the injury, including 16 in the third. He came in averaging a team-best 25.3 points and 6.3 assists.
Green's first-quarter exit was quieter. Ott said he didn't see the injury and that Green reported feeling pain during a timeout. It was the guard's second game since returning from a right hamstring injury that sidelined him for 33 games.
“Jalen, got a little tightness. For precautionary reasons, took him out,” Ott said. “Jalen’s worked every single day to get back to go out and play basketball, and then basketball is taken away. So, it's tough. It's tough for his teammates, tough for him.”
The Suns play at Miami on Sunday night before heading back to Phoenix. Ott said both injuries will be assessed once the team is home.
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Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dunks against the Atlanta Hawks during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) winces in pain during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Atlanta Hawks, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Atlanta Hawks guard CJ McCollum (3) drives against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
