News | Entertainment
18 Dec 2025 21:35
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Entertainment

    Gloria Gaynor was "in shock" to be named as a Kennedy Center honouree

    The I Will Survive hitmaker was recognised by US President Donald Trump at a ceremony over the weekend and was stunned to honoured alongside the likes of rock band KISS, movie legend Sylvester Stallone and West End star Michael Crawford.


    Gloria told People: "I was in shock. I was literally in shock. Are you serious with me?
    "I mean, really, it's so wonderful to be counted among all these other great artists, and with all of their accomplishments. I'm blessed."
    Gaynor also described how "wonderful" it was to meet with the "personable" Trump when the President welcomed this year's honourees to the White House.
    The 82-year-old singer said: "It was wonderful. It was, I mean, like the third or fourth time meeting him. I'd met him before, and he's always very personable and very pleasant."
    Gloria's 1978 hit I Will Survive remains one of the best-selling disco singles in history and she was inspired to record the song after being empowered by the lyrics following an operation.
    She said: "When I first read the lyrics, it was an anthem to me because I was in a back brace. I just had surgery on my spine.
    "Because it was doing so much for me, encouraging me, I knew that it would do that for anybody that was going through, not just a physical struggle, but any kind of mental, emotional struggle.
    "I believed that it would help them and spur them on to victory and encourage them to make it through whatever they were struggling with."
    I Will Survive was lauded by Trump, who claims that the record gets "better every time you hear it".
    The White House chief said: "I Will Survive is an unbelievable song.
    "I've heard it, you know, like everyone else here, thousands of times. And it's one of those few that gets better every time you hear it.
    "Nobody can sing it like her. And that's an honour. So, Gloria Gaynor, thank you."
    The track is regarded as a feminist anthem but Gaynor claims that song has led to misconceptions about her.
    She said earlier this year: "The biggest misconception about me? Hmm.
    "It may be dangerous to say this, but that I’m a feminist. People say it to me, 'And since you’re a feminist…' Um, no. Not really. I love men."
    Gloria continued: "I grew up with five brothers, and I love men. I love men who know who they are and are strong enough to take their place but also strong enough to recognise a woman’s strengths and who are able to allow her to exercise those strengths and realise that we are to be partners and not opponents."

    © 2025 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     18 Dec: Kelly Ripa "tries not to act so much anymore" because she does not want to be away from her family
     18 Dec: King Charles' cancer treatment "can be reduced in the New Year"
     18 Dec: Kim Kardashian's law mentor has praised the star for being transparent about failing her California bar exam
     18 Dec: Glenn Close wants to die in the replica of her grandparents' stone cottage that she is building
     18 Dec: Timothee Chalamet pranked Trisha Goddard when she asked the Hollywood star for a selfie
     18 Dec: Matt Smith has spilled that filming on Star Wars: Starfighter has wrapped - and he is confident it's going to be a major hit
     18 Dec: Kylie Minogue wants Margot Robbie to play her in a future biopic - but is worried she's now too famous to portray her on screen
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    High jumper Hamish Kerr is shaping as one of the major contenders for the Halbergs Supreme prize in February More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Most parts of the economy are growing again More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Kelly Ripa "tries not to act so much anymore" because she does not want to be away from her family 21:20

    Rugby League:
    Rugby league's NRL has issued breach notices to the Sydney Roosters in relation to salary cap overspend and the Melbourne Storm in relation to team selection protocols 21:17

    Law and Order:
    Former senior police officers detail why Bondi Beach terror incident was so difficult to defend 20:57

    Entertainment:
    King Charles' cancer treatment "can be reduced in the New Year" 20:50

    Entertainment:
    Kim Kardashian's law mentor has praised the star for being transparent about failing her California bar exam 20:20

    Living & Travel:
    How to handle awkward comments and conversations this Christmas 19:57

    Entertainment:
    Glenn Close wants to die in the replica of her grandparents' stone cottage that she is building 19:50

    Entertainment:
    Timothee Chalamet pranked Trisha Goddard when she asked the Hollywood star for a selfie 19:20

    Law and Order:
    Police are hoping an offender profile will help the public identify the person responsible for a death in Hawke's Bay's Hastings 18:57

    Entertainment:
    Matt Smith has spilled that filming on Star Wars: Starfighter has wrapped - and he is confident it's going to be a major hit 18:50


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd