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The long-running Let Freedom Ring concert honoring Martin Luther King Jr. is leaving its familiar home at the John F. Kennedy Center this year. Organizers say the show will take place at the historic Howard Theatre, a move driven by budget decisions and shifts in leadership at the Kennedy Center. The change has stirred reactions from artists and producers who have been part of the DC tradition for decades.
What changed: a high-profile venue swap
Let Freedom Ring has been a signature MLK Day event at the Kennedy Center for more than 20 years. This year, the show — headlined by actor and rapper Common — will be staged at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.
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- Georgetown University, which produces the event, announced the relocation.
- The choir tradition continues, with singers from local churches and Georgetown participating.
- Organizers say moving to the Howard Theatre is a cost-saving measure.
Voices reacting to the move
Marc Bamuthi Joseph, who served as artistic director for social impact at the Kennedy Center until March 2025, said staying at the Kennedy Center under its current leadership would feel inconsistent with the event’s values. He criticized recent administrative choices at the center and framed the relocation as a principled step.
Longtime music producer Nolan Williams Jr., who has overseen Let Freedom Ring since 2003, also supports the transition. He emphasized honoring the concert’s history while embracing new chapters. “You celebrate what was and then move forward,” he said.
New music and the message for 2025
For this year’s performance, Williams composed a piece titled “Just Like Selma.” The work draws on King’s famous line about the moral arc of the universe bending toward justice.
Williams said the phrase should not be read as passive. The song uses active language — words like protest, resist, endure, agitate — to stress that people must act to make change happen.
What to expect from the program
- Headliner: Common, blending spoken-word and musical elements.
- Choirs: D.C.-area church singers and Georgetown University vocalists.
- New composition: Nolan Williams Jr.’s “Just Like Selma.”
Why leadership changes at the Kennedy Center matter
In February 2025, President Trump appointed new leadership at the Kennedy Center. Soon after, the center’s social impact division was eliminated and several staffers were laid off.
Those changes prompted debate about the center’s direction and programming choices. The president had previously criticized some Kennedy Center programs as overly focused on diversity and inclusion.
Advocates for the relocated concert say the move reflects a desire to align the event’s hosting environment with MLK’s teachings on equity and justice.
How the Kennedy Center is responding
The Kennedy Center said its own MLK Day celebration will feature the Missionary Kings of Harmony from the United House of Prayer for All People’s Anacostia congregation.
The institution continues to present events and says it will maintain programming for the holiday, even as some long-standing productions shift venues or producers.
Local history and the significance of the Howard Theatre
The Howard Theatre is a landmark in Washington’s cultural landscape. Hosting Let Freedom Ring there reconnects the program with a storied Black entertainment venue.
Producers note the theater’s history and community roots make it a fitting stage for a commemoration of Dr. King.
Behind the scenes: production and edits
Nolan Williams Jr. remains committed to crafting work that challenges audiences. He sees the relocated concert as an opportunity to reframe the celebration.
The audio and digital versions of the original report were edited by Jennifer Vanasco.
