Why Adam Carolla’s Trump Kennedy Center Gigs Matter

Why did it take so long for Sylvester Stallone to be chosen for a Kennedy Center Honor?

Good question, no?

Few actors can top Stallone’s Hollywood resume.

• Serious actor (“Rocky,” “Cop Land,” “Creed”)
• Box-office sensation – “Rocky,” “Rambo” franchises, “Creed,” “Cliffhanger” and much more
• Oscar-nominated screenwriter – “Rocky”
• TV star – “Tulsa King“
• Pop culture icon

Yet only after President Donald Trump took over the Kennedy Center last year did Stallone get the call.

Hmmm.

The Kennedy Center hasn’t been as blatantly partisan as some segments of Hollywood. Trump’s makeover of the D.C.-based group, including a name tweak, has exposed some of its lesser-known leanings.

Now, some hard-Left artists are balking at performing in the storied venue under Trump’s command. That includes, most recently, “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz and Chuck Redd.

The same doesn’t apply to Adam Carolla.

He headlines clubs, theaters, & casinos nationwide, & on Saturday, January 31, comedian, actor, radio personality, television host, & New York Times best-selling author @adamcarolla brings his all-new material to our Terrace Theater for TWO SHOWS ONLY⤵️https://t.co/RZsdiyjZy7 pic.twitter.com/EEAKeEaO4M

— The Trump Kennedy Center (@kencen) January 5, 2026

The comedian, who helped pioneer podcasting with “The Adam Carolla Show,” will make his Trump Kennedy Center debut at month’s end at the Terrace Theater.

Carolla isn’t a conservative. His political leanings are hard to pin down, but he’s drifted to the Right, in part, because Democrats now cozy up to Bernie Sanders, The Squad and the Big Apple’s socialist Mayor.

Carolla’s common-sense approach to culture resonates with Red State audiences, even if his standup act isn’t overtly political.

He isn’t the only rebel comedian slated to perform at The Trump Kennedy Center in 2026. Tony Hinchcliffe, who oversees the massively popular “Kill Tony” podcast, will appear May 2. Jeff Foxworthy, a Blue Collar Comedy alum and heartland favorite, drops by Feb. 6.

In a perfect world, the venue should remain open to left-leaning artists. Some progressive stars, however, refuse to entertain under a Trump-friendly banner.

We keep seeing artists cancel their appearances. That trend may not slow down.

For now, the Trump Kennedy Center is a rare home for right-leaning audiences to see shows that speak to their values and tastes. Even better?

Comedians like Carolla offer insights that may be foreign to some D.C.-area patrons. He’s well equipped to defend his points of view, and funny enough to frame them in ways that could challenge the media’s groupthink.

He’s like Dave Chappelle in that fashion, someone who can upend our preconceptions while making us smile. He might do just that at the end of the month.

Carolla plays the Terrace Theater Jan. 31 for two shows – 7 pm and 9 pm.