In a development that could only happen in a country that worships ceremony and spectacle, the Kennedy Center Honors are being reimagined for a new political moment.

Rumors place George Strait, the band Kiss, and Michael Crawford on the short list to join the pantheon, a trio that makes the original cast of a Broadway jukebox look tame.

An unnamed official explained that the plan aims to widen appeal across generations and to turn the ceremony into a conversation starter about taste, nostalgia, and stagecraft.

The proposed mix of a rural heartthrob, a glam rock spectacle, and a classic West End star is being described by insiders as just the right amount of cultural fusion and stage fog.

Staffers are quick to point out that this is not a political stunt but a long running fund raising event dressed up with glitzy sequins and a camera crew.

Strait would bring decades of highway anthems and a refusal to go quietly into the night, which officials hope translates to ratings and merch deals.

Kiss brings a pyrotechnic signature and a cautionary note that the glitter budget may need its own fire marshal.

Michael Crawford provides a steady slice of classic musical theater pedigree that could calm performers who fear stage drift.

Critics worry the list is now more a social media stunt than a celebration of artistic achievement, but the committee insists it is a celebration of audience engagement.

Proposed ceremony logistics include a live soundtrack from a cloud of fog machines and a chorus of backup dancers trained by professional wedding planners.

Economists and marketers are already calculating the cross promotional potential, which apparently involves whiskey ads, guitar picks, and phantom opera posters.

Viewers will decide if the spectacle lands or sinks, but at least the speeches will have extra sparkle and a lot more lip gloss.

Until the announcement lands, the ceremony hums with possibility of surprises such as a holographic country star joining on stage.

One thing is certain the Kennedy Center will keep honoring art with grand music and grander entrances even if the guest list doubles as a marketing plan.