Entertainment

‘Kennedy Center Honors’ Ratings Hit Record Low With No Trump

Katie Jerkovich Entertainment Reporter
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The CBS ratings for the “Kennedy Centers Honors” hit a record low for the program, according to Deadline Wednesday.

The 40th annual ceremony honors celebrities for their accomplishments to shaping the “cultural life in the United States” and was the only program on one of the four big networks that wasn’t a rerun Tuesday. However, the special dropped 28 percent from last year’s program and hit the lowest ratings the series has had since 1987, when the ratings were first noted. (RELATED: ‘All In The Family’ Creator Boycotts Kennedy Center Event Because Of Trump)

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (R) chats with 2017 Kennedy Center Honorees singer Lionel Ritchie (L) and Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan at the conclusion of a gala dinner at the U.S. State Department, in Washington, U.S., December 2, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Theiler

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson (R) chats with 2017 Kennedy Center Honorees singer Lionel Ritchie (L) and Cuban-American singer Gloria Estefan at the conclusion of a gala dinner at the U.S. State Department, in Washington, U.S., December 2, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Theiler

In addition, the program fared just as bad in the coveted age demographic of ages 18-49, dropping 30 percent from a 1.0 rating to a .7 rating. The CBS special also averaged 6.2 million viewers from 9-11 p.m., which was down from last year’s special when 8.620 million people tuned in, according to Variety.

Earlier this year, several inductees had announced they would boycott a gala held at the White House for the Kennedy Center honorees because of President Donald Trump. In response, the president announced that he and Melania Trump would not be attending this year’s event to keep things from being political.

It was the first time in two decades the president and his spouse skipped the annual event.

“The President and First Lady have decided not to participate in this year’s activities to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction,” a statement from the White House read at the time. “First Lady Melania Trump, along with her husband President Donald J. Trump, extend their sincerest congratulations and well wishes to all of this year’s award recipients for their many accomplishments.”

Honorees at this year’s event included, rapper L.L. Cool J, singers Gloria Estefan and Lionel Richie, TV producer Norman Lear and dancer Carmen de Lavallade.