India, Dec. 27 -- The Kennedy Center has threatened legal action against jazz musician Chuck Redd after he abruptly canceled a long-running Christmas Eve performance, citing opposition to the addition of President Donald Trump's name to the historic arts venue.

The move surrounds broader controversy over the legality and political implications of the renaming.

Redd, a drummer and vibraphone player, pulled out of the holiday concert just days after the White House announced that Trump's name would be added to the Kennedy Center. The musician has led the venue's popular holiday "Jazz Jams" since 2006, making the Christmas Eve performance a long-standing tradition.

In an email to The Associated Press, Redd said he decided to cancel after ...