In an unusual ceremony held in the Oval Office of the White House last Saturday, the 6th, President Donald Trump presented the rock band KISS with the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors . The award recognizes artists who have left a lasting mark on American culture.
Trump praised the band as "perhaps the most talented and renowned group of Kennedy Center honorees ever assembled" [via Blabbermouth ]. During the presentation, the president described KISS as an "unbelievable rock band" and stated that they are among the greatest artists and performers of their generation, presenting medals to Gene Simmons , Paul Stanley , and Peter Criss .
The president presented the medal to Monique , daughter of Ace Frehley , co-founding guitarist, who died on October 16, 2025, at the age of 74, after suffering a fall in his home studio that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. On the occasion, Trump said "that he now rests in peace," adding that "the guitarist's beautiful daughter is here to receive the honor."
According to Billboard , Ace became only the third person to receive a posthumous tribute from the Kennedy Center . He joins two other band members who also passed away after the award announcement: Glenn Frey of the Eagles and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead .
Through social media, Kiss expressed their gratitude:
“From the very beginning, KISS has always been dedicated to proving that anything is possible with hard work and passion. We are deeply honored to receive this tribute from the Kennedy Center and proudly share this recognition with our fans and all those who have been part of building this legacy. This honor would not have been possible without the irreplaceable contributions of our founding partner, Ace Frehley. Knowing how much this award meant to him, we celebrate this milestone while mourning his loss.”
The medal awarded is a new version created by the jewelry company Tiffany & Co. Made on a gold disc suspended from a navy blue ribbon, it replaces the old plaque necklace used since 1978. Other honorees this year are actor Sylvester Stallone , singers Gloria Gaynor and George Strait , and actor and singer Michael Crawford .
READ ALSO: Gene Simmons reveals cause of Ace Frehley's death: "Bad decisions"