KISS to Receive Kennedy Center Honor After Guitarist Ace Frehley's Passing

The music world is mourning the loss of Ace Frehley, the founding guitarist of the legendary rock band KISS, who passed away on October 16, 2025, at the age of 74. This news comes just seven weeks before KISS is set to receive a prestigious Kennedy Center Honor on December 7, 2025.

Frehley's passing marks the third time the Kennedy Center has honored an individual posthumously, following the recognition of Glenn Frey of the Eagles and Phil Lesh of the Grateful Dead. The Kennedy Center's policy typically requires honorees to be living, making Frehley's inclusion a rare exception.

The Kennedy Center Honors ceremony, which is scheduled to air on CBS on December 23, 2025, will also recognize other music icons, including country legend George Strait, stage and screen star Michael Crawford, disco pioneer Gloria Gaynor, and film icon Sylvester Stallone. This year's event will be the first time a sitting president, in this case, President Trump, has hosted the program.

Despite the bittersweet nature of Frehley's passing, KISS' recognition by the Kennedy Center is a testament to their enduring impact on the music industry. The band's induction into this prestigious group of honorees, which includes other iconic groups like The Who, Led Zeppelin, and the Eagles, solidifies their legacy as one of the most influential and celebrated acts in rock history.