News | Entertainment
4 Mar 2026 14:36
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."

    © 2026 Bang Showbiz, NZCity

     Other Entertainment News
     04 Mar: Katie Couric has called Savannah Guthrie's ordeal "tragically unprecedented"
     04 Mar: Eiza Gonzalez felt "unsafe" in her "own skin" as she battled body image issues
     04 Mar: Brandi Glanville feels like she "lost everything" as a result of her breast implants rupturing
     04 Mar: The Wire actor Bobby J. Brown has died at the age of 62
     04 Mar: Lisa Rinna has claimed she was drugged at The Traitors season four premiere party last month
     04 Mar: Grey's Anatomy has aired a poignant tribute to former castmember Eric Dane following his death last week
     04 Mar: One Battle After Another star Teyana Taylor was told "it was dumb" to swap music for movies
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Rugby World Cup-winning loose forward Liam Messam believes Dave Rennie is the right man to bring the All Blacks squad together More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    Air New Zealand's financial position could worsen before it gets better More...



     Today's News

    International:
    Donald Trump says 'just about everything's been knocked out' in Iran 14:27

    Rugby:
    Rugby World Cup-winning loose forward Liam Messam believes Dave Rennie is the right man to bring the All Blacks squad together 14:07

    Politics:
    The US-Israel attack on Iran paints NZ foreign policy into a corner 14:07

    Rugby:
    Kelly Jackson won't be dwelling on Netball New Zealand boardroom changes ahead of a busy next few months for club and country 14:07

    Entertainment:
    Katie Couric has called Savannah Guthrie's ordeal "tragically unprecedented" 14:05

    Politics:
    Signs of increasing frustration with political quick-fixes 13:47

    International:
    What you need to know about Iran today, with Laura Tingle 13:37

    International:
    Marine traffic data shows oil tankers 'down to zero' in Strait of Hormuz 13:37

    Entertainment:
    Eiza Gonzalez felt "unsafe" in her "own skin" as she battled body image issues 13:35

    International:
    How the US and Israel struck Iran in Operation Epic Fury 13:27


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2026 New Zealand City Ltd