Editing Bruce Springsteen (section)

===2019–2021: ''Western Stars'' ===
Springsteen's nineteenth studio album, ''[[Western Stars]]'', was released in June 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 3, 2019 |title=Bruce Springsteen's 'Western Stars' Grows More Satisfying with Repeated Exposure |url=https://www.popmatters.com/bruce-springsteen-western-stars-2638663688.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1?rebelltitem=1 |access-date=December 31, 2019 |website=PopMatters |language=en |archive-date=December 31, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191231185915/https://www.popmatters.com/bruce-springsteen-western-stars-2638663688.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1?rebelltitem=1 |url-status=live}}</ref>

It was announced on July 23, 2019, that Springsteen would premiere his film, ''Western Stars'', at the [[Toronto Film Festival]] in September 2019. He co-directed the film along with longtime collaborator [[Thom Zimny]]. The film features Springsteen and his backing band performing the music from ''Western Stars'' to a live audience.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=July 23, 2019 |title=Bruce Springsteen to Debut 'Western Stars' Film at Toronto Film Festival |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-western-stars-toronto-film-festival-862320/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723181119/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-western-stars-toronto-film-festival-862320/ |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2019 |title=Bruce Springsteen Turns Director for Inventive Concert Film 'Western Stars' |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/07/bruce-springsteen-director-concert-film-western-stars-1202160168/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723182128/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/07/bruce-springsteen-director-concert-film-western-stars-1202160168/ |archive-date=July 23, 2019 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |website=[[IndieWire]]}}</ref> The film was released in theaters in October 2019, and the film's soundtrack, ''[[Western Stars#Film|Western Stars – Songs from the Film]]'', was also released that day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2019 |title=Bruce Springsteen reveals new Western Stars film soundtrack: Stream |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bruce-springsteen-reveals-western-stars-040001417.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191107145319/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/bruce-springsteen-reveals-western-stars-040001417.html |archive-date=November 7, 2019 |access-date=November 7, 2019 |publisher=[[Yahoo!]]}}</ref>

On May 29, 2020, Springsteen appeared remotely during a livestream, no-audience concert by the [[Dropkick Murphys]] at [[Fenway Park]] in [[Boston]]. Springsteen performed the Dropkick Murphys song "[[Rose Tattoo (song)|Rose Tattoo]]" and his song "American Land", sharing co-vocals with [[Ken Casey]] on both songs. The event marked the first music performance without an in-person audience at a major U.S. arena, stadium or ballpark during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 18, 2020 |title=Dropkick Murphys to Play Audience-Less Concert From Fenway Park With Bruce Springsteen |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/05/dropkick-murphys-bruce-springsteen-fenway-park/ |website=Consequence |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524184640/https://consequenceofsound.net/2020/05/dropkick-murphys-bruce-springsteen-fenway-park/ |archive-date=May 24, 2020 |access-date=May 18, 2020}}</ref> The livestream attracted over 9&nbsp;million viewers and raised over $700,000 through charitable donations.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 3, 2020 |title=Dropkick Murphys and Bruce Springsteen's Fenway Park Show Raises a Ton of Money For Boston Charities |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9395675/dropkick-murphys-bruce-springsteen-fenway-show-donations-total |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604002051/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9395675/dropkick-murphys-bruce-springsteen-fenway-show-donations-total |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |access-date=May 6, 2020}}</ref>

Springsteen's twentieth studio album, ''[[Letter to You]]'', was released in October 2020.<ref name="Variety-2020" /><ref name="The Earliest Bird-2020" /> An accompanying documentary of the same name was released the same month.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Chris |date=October 23, 2020 |title=Bruce Springsteen Writes a Letter to You, Releases New Album and Apple TV+ Doc |url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/bruce-springsteen-letter-to-you-new-album-documentary-apple.html |website=Vulture |access-date=November 5, 2021 |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105033709/https://www.vulture.com/2020/10/bruce-springsteen-letter-to-you-new-album-documentary-apple.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Hiatt-2020">{{Cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=October 5, 2020 |title=Bruce Springsteen Announces 'Letter to You' Documentary Release Date |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-letter-to-you-date-1066105/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210118073934/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-letter-to-you-date-1066105/ |archive-date=January 18, 2021 |access-date=April 25, 2021 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> The documentary was shot exclusively in black and white and was directed by Thom Zimny.<ref name="Hiatt-2020" /> The album was supported by two singles, "[[Letter to You (song)|Letter to You]]" and "[[Ghosts (Bruce Springsteen song)|Ghosts]]", released in September.<ref name="Variety-2020">{{Cite web |date=September 10, 2020 |title=Bruce Springsteen Drops New Song, 'Letter to You,' Album Due Next Month (Listen) |url=https://variety.com/2020/music/news/bruce-springsteen-new-song-letter-to-you-listen-1234764254/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910132646/https://variety.com/2020/music/news/bruce-springsteen-new-song-letter-to-you-listen-1234764254/ |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=September 10, 2020 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref name="The Earliest Bird-2020">{{Cite web |date=October 23, 2020 |title=The Earliest Bird: Top Release October 23rd, 2020, Bruce Springsteen's "Letter To You" Reviewed – Rock NYC |url=https://rocknyc.live/the-earliest-bird-top-release-october-23rd-2020-bruce-springsteens-letter-to-you-reviewed.html |access-date=November 5, 2021 |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105033711/https://rocknyc.live/the-earliest-bird-top-release-october-23rd-2020-bruce-springsteens-letter-to-you-reviewed.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1308752984029962241 |user=springsteen |title="Count the band in then kick into overdrive / By the end of the set we leave no one alive / Ghosts runnin' through the night / Our spirits filled with light…" Ghosts out tomorrow! https://t.co/2c86E5tUlY |first=Bruce |last=Springsteen |date=September 23, 2020 |access-date=December 31, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> In November, Springsteen was featured as a guest singer for [[Bleachers (band)|Bleachers]]' single, "[[Chinatown (Bleachers song)|Chinatown]]".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Martoccio |first=Angie |date=November 16, 2020 |title=Bleachers Return With 'Chinatown' Featuring Bruce Springsteen |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bleachers-chinatown-bruce-springsteen-new-album-1090416/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205232639/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bleachers-chinatown-bruce-springsteen-new-album-1090416/ |archive-date=December 5, 2020 |access-date=December 10, 2020}}</ref> ''Letter to You'' reached No. 2 in the US, making Springsteen the first artist to release a top-five album in six consecutive decades.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Lenker |first=Maureen Lee |date=November 3, 2020 |title=Bruce Springsteen reminds us why he's the Boss, becomes first artist with a Top 5 album in six decades |url=https://ew.com/music/bruce-springsteen-first-artist-top-5-album-six-decades/ |access-date=November 14, 2022 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-date=November 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114150852/https://ew.com/music/bruce-springsteen-first-artist-top-5-album-six-decades/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Springsteen and the E Street Band were musical guests on the December 12, 2020, episode of ''Saturday Night Live'', where they performed "Ghosts" and "[[I'll See You in My Dreams (Bruce Springsteen song)|I'll See You in My Dreams]]". This marked the band's first performance since 2017 and their first to promote ''Letter to You''. [[Garry Tallent]] and [[Soozie Tyrell]] opted to remain at home due to [[COVID-19]] concerns; this was the first time Tallent had ever missed a performance with the band, and Jack Daley of the Disciples of Soul filled in for him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 25, 2020 |title=Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Dua Lipa, Morgan Wallen to Perform on SNL |url=https://www.spin.com/2020/11/bruce-springsteen-and-the-e-street-band-dua-lipa-morgan-wallen-to-perform-on-snl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125185708/https://www.spin.com/2020/11/bruce-springsteen-and-the-e-street-band-dua-lipa-morgan-wallen-to-perform-on-snl/ |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |access-date=November 25, 2020 |website=Spin}}</ref>

In February 2021, it was announced that Springsteen was releasing an eight-part [[podcast]] on [[Spotify]] titled ''[[Renegades: Born in the USA]]'' that would feature himself in conversation with Barack Obama discussing a wide range of topics including family, race, marriage, fatherhood, and the state of the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 22, 2021 |title=Inside new podcast featuring Bruce Springsteen in conversation with Barack Obama |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/inside-podcast-featuring-bruce-springsteen-conversation-barack-obama/story?id=76062675 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223183833/https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Culture/inside-podcast-featuring-bruce-springsteen-conversation-barack-obama/story?id=76062675 |archive-date=February 23, 2021 |access-date=February 23, 2021 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]}}</ref> Springsteen performed co-lead vocals and guitar on [[John Mellencamp]]'s song "Wasted Days", released in September 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bruce Springsteen Joins John Mellencamp on Contemplative 'Wasted Days' |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/bruce-springsteen-joins-john-mellencamp-on-contemplative-e2-80-98wasted-days-e2-80-99/ar-AAOXflX?ocid=BingNewsSearch |access-date=September 29, 2021 |publisher=MSN |archive-date=September 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929145124/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/bruce-springsteen-joins-john-mellencamp-on-contemplative-e2-80-98wasted-days-e2-80-99/ar-AAOXflX?ocid=BingNewsSearch |url-status=live}}</ref>

On June 7, 2021, Springsteen announced that his ''Springsteen on Broadway'' shows would return for a limited run at Jujamcyn's [[St. James Theatre]] beginning on June 26, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Springsteen on Broadway to Return to Broadway for Limited Run Beginning June 26 |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SPRINGSTEEN-ON-BROADWAY-to-Return-to-Broadway-for-Limited-Run-Beginning-June-26-20210607 |access-date=June 7, 2021 |publisher=Broadway World |archive-date=June 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210607171445/https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/SPRINGSTEEN-ON-BROADWAY-to-Return-to-Broadway-for-Limited-Run-Beginning-June-26-20210607 |url-status=live}}</ref> In an interview with [[E Street Radio]]'s Jim Rotolo on June 10, 2021, Springsteen said that he did not plan on playing any shows in 2021 but was talked into the Broadway shows by a "friend".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bruce Springsteen on Broadway and beyond: E Street Band tour, new music coming |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/bruce-springsteen-on-broadway-and-beyond-e-street-band-tour-new-music-coming/ar-AAKV0BR?ocid=BingNewsSearch |access-date=June 10, 2021 |publisher=MSN |archive-date=June 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611001248/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/bruce-springsteen-on-broadway-and-beyond-e-street-band-tour-new-music-coming/ar-AAKV0BR?ocid=BingNewsSearch |url-status=live}}</ref> During the same interview, Springsteen also announced an upcoming collaboration with [[the Killers]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 10, 2021 |title=Bruce Springsteen Talks 'Broadway' Return, New Music with Killers and John Mellencamp, and 2022 tour? |url=https://variety.com/2021/music/news/bruce-springsteen-talks-broadway-killers-mellencamp-tour-1234993677/ |access-date=June 10, 2021 |website=Variety |archive-date=June 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611003557/https://variety.com/2021/music/news/bruce-springsteen-talks-broadway-killers-mellencamp-tour-1234993677/ |url-status=live}}</ref> 

On September 11, 2021, Springsteen performed "[[I'll See You in My Dreams (Bruce Springsteen song)|I'll See You in My Dreams]]" in tribute to the [[Casualties of the September 11 attacks|victims]] of the September 11 attacks.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=September 11, 2021 |title=See Bruce Springsteen Perform 'I'll See You in My Dreams' at 9/11 20th Anniversary Memorial |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-9-11-20th-anniversary-memorial-1224193/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=September 11, 2021 |archive-date=September 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911135126/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-9-11-20th-anniversary-memorial-1224193/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

On December 13, 2021, Springsteen gave a surprise four song performance at the John Henry's Friends benefit concert for children diagnosed with [[Autism]] where he was joined by [[Steve Earle and the Dukes]] as his backing band.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 13, 2021 |title=Bruce Springsteen plugs in, goes gray at Steve Earle autism benefit in New York City |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/bruce-springsteen-plugs-goes-gray-220736480.html |access-date=December 16, 2021 |website=Yahoo |language=en-US |archive-date=December 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216211745/https://www.yahoo.com/news/bruce-springsteen-plugs-goes-gray-220736480.html |url-status=live}}</ref> On December 16, 2021, Springsteen sold the masters of his entire catalog and the coinciding music publishing rights to [[Sony Music]] for $500 million. This topped what [[Bob Dylan]] and [[Taylor Swift]] received for their catalogs by $200 million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 16, 2021 |title=Bruce Springsteen Sells His Masters, Publishing Catalog to Sony for $500 Million |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/bruce-springsteen-sells-his-masters-publishing-catalog-to-sony-for-500-million/ |access-date=December 16, 2021 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=December 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211216014309/https://pitchfork.com/news/bruce-springsteen-sells-his-masters-publishing-catalog-to-sony-for-500-million/ |url-status=live}}</ref> This sale, along with his Broadway shows and projects with Obama, helped him top the ''Rolling Stone'' list of the highest-paid musicians of 2021.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greenburg |first=Zack O'Malley |date=January 14, 2022 |title=Nine of the 10 Highest-Paid Musicians of 2021 Were Men |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/highest-paid-musicians-2021-bruce-springsteen-jay-z-taylor-swift-1281654/jay-z-470-million-1282532/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114224129/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/highest-paid-musicians-2021-bruce-springsteen-jay-z-taylor-swift-1281654/jay-z-470-million-1282532/ |archive-date=January 14, 2022 |access-date=January 16, 2022}}</ref>