WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday named country music star George Strait, “Rocky” actor Sylvester Stallone, singer Gloria Gaynor, the rock band Kiss and actor-singer Michael Crawford among the first batch of Kennedy Center Honors nominees under his leadership as the center’s chairman and said he’ll host the awards program.

KISS bandmembers Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons once called President Donald Trump "abhorrent" and "out for himself." Now, the legendary rock band is being honored by him at the Kennedy Center.

This is the first Kennedy Center Honors since President Trump took over as chairman of the prestigious institution and pledged to turn it in a more conservative direction