Trump avoided the Kennedy Center Honors during his first term after artists said they would not attend out of protest. This year, the Republican president has taken over as the Kennedy Center’s new chairman and fired the board of trustees, which he replaced with loyalists.

The actors Sylvester Stallone and Michael Crawford, the singers George Strait and Gloria Gaynor and the rock band Kiss will be honored later this year.

Trump in his first term had chafed at the Kennedy Center Honors ceremony. He skipped the ceremony repeatedly, with some artists pledging to boycott if he attended. It was White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, Trump said Wednesday, who convinced him to host the honors this year.