| 100% | BERNSTEIN | 9 | Leonard whose "Mass" opened the Kennedy Center |
| 49% | ASHE | 4 | Arthur whose surname is on the US Open's center court |
| 44% | YEHUD | 5 | Violinist recognized at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986 |
| 43% | ALEXANDRADANILOVA | 17 | Prima ballerina who received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1989 |
| 42% | CANAVERAL | 9 | Home to the Kennedy Space Center, familiarly |
| 41% | QUEENLATIFAH | 12 | "Chicago" Oscar nominee honored by the Kennedy Center in 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 41% | NASA | 4 | Agency that uses the Kennedy Space Center: Abbr. |
| 41% | NASA | 4 | Group that uses the Kennedy Space Center: Abbr. |
| 41% | JONIMITCHELL | 12 | Canadian singer/songwriter celebrated by the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021 (2 wds.) |
| 41% | DIONNEWARWICK | 13 | "Walk on By" singer honored by the Kennedy Center in 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 40% | CANAVERAL | 9 | The location of Kennedy Space Center, Cape __ |
| 40% | JUSTINODIAZ | 11 | Puerto Rican opera singer celebrated by the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021 (2 wds.) |
| 40% | RENEEFLEMING | 12 | "Signatures - Great Opera Scenes" soprano honored by the Kennedy Center in 2023 (2 wds.) |
| 39% | ATRIA | 5 | Open rooms at the centers of Roman houses |
| 39% | REBAMCENTIRE | 12 | "Consider Me Gone" country singer recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors in 2018 (2 wds.) |
| 38% | WILLIENELSON | 12 | "Always on My Mind" country singer recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors in 1998 (2 wds.) |
| 38% | BETTEMIDLER | 11 | American star of stage and screen celebrated by the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021 (2 wds.) |
| 38% | ARTS | 4 | Kennedy Center focus, with "the" |
| 38% | GEORGEJONES | 11 | "He Stopped Loving Her Today" country singer recognized by the Kennedy Center Honors in 2008 (2 wds.) |
| 37% | IDOIDO | 6 | Musical whose opening song is "All the Dearly Beloved" |
| 37% | CSI | 3 | Franchise whose opening themes are songs by The Who |
| 36% | COHEN | 5 | Leonard —, poet and songwriter whose novels include 1963's The Favourite Game |
| 36% | VORTEX | 6 | Whirling mass of air, with a vacuum at the center |
| 36% | LSU | 3 | Sch. whose teams play at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center |
| 36% | OSLO | 4 | Norway city whose name appears in the center of "Czechoslovakia" |
| 36% | FOUROCLOCK | 10 | Flower whose blooms open in the late afternoon |
| 35% | SEATTLE | 7 | City whose skyline is drawn in the opening of 43-Across |
| 35% | CSI | 3 | TV show whose opening music is the Who's "Who Are You" |
| 34% | DREAMGIRLS | 10 | Musical whose opening scene is set at Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre |
| 34% | AARP | 4 | Org. whose membership is open to anyone over the age of 18, surprisingly |