Kevin Couch, a veteran live entertainment exec and musician, was announced as the head of artistic programming at the newly rechristened Trump Kennedy Center on Jan. 16. Less than two weeks later, Couch has stepped down from the post.
Couch confirmed that he resigned from the Kennedy Center position in statements to the Washington Post and New York Times; he did not provide a reason for his decision to quit. Reps for the Kennedy Center did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Kennedy Center’s previous head of programming was Jeffrey Finn, who quit in September 2025 after nearly 10 years leading the center’s touring Broadway shows and locally produced musicals.
Couch’s exit from the Kennedy Center comes amid a tumultuous past several months for the D.C. arts institution. Last month, the White House claimed that the Kennedy Center board of trustees — who were handpicked by President Trump — voted unanimously to rename the facility the “Trump Kennedy Center.” (The full new name, which is being disputed, is “The Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.”) Legal experts say the renaming of the center is illegal, because a 1964 federal law established its name as “The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts” after the slain president and explicitly prohibits the board of trustees from adding any other name to the building’s exterior.
Since the Trump Kennedy Center renaming was announced, multiple artists have canceled their scheduled performances at the center, including Philip Glass, Renée Fleming, “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz, Béla Fleck and a production of “Hamilton.”
Couch had been announced as joining the Kennedy Center as senior VP of artistic programming. “A visionary entertainment leader, Couch brings over two decades of experience in artist management, global booking, and high-level brand partnerships to this senior leadership role at America’s cultural center,” the organization said in the Jan. 16 announcement. At the time, Couch said in a statement: “I am honored to join the Trump Kennedy Center at such a pivotal moment for the performing arts. I look forward to the extraordinary creative possibilities ahead — championing our artists and partners to deliver meaningful experiences at America’s cultural center.”
Prior to joining the Kennedy Center, Couch most recently served as director of programming for ATG Entertainment, overseeing a portfolio of venues including in San Antonio, Tulsa and Little Rock. In that role, he led the booking of music, comedy and non-theatrical programming, presenting artists and events such as Sabrina Carpenter, Carlos Santana, ZZ Top, Diana Ross, Nate Bargatze and Joe Rogan’s Netflix special “Burn the Boats” at the Majestic Theatre San Antonio. Prior to ATG, Couch founded CBC Creative, a Dallas-based branding agency.
Couch has also managed the careers of several national touring acts across multiple genres, most notably the ’90s R&B group Color Me Badd. In addition, Couch has performed as a drummer for various artists and was part of the Vans Warped Tour.
