Editing Bruce Springsteen (section)

==Career==
[[File:Stone Pony Asbury Park NJ1.jpg|thumb|[[The Stone Pony]], a live music club and bar in [[Asbury Park, New Jersey]], where Springsteen and other [[E Street Band]] members played regularly in the 1970s; in the early 1980s; Springsteen met his second and current wife [[Patti Scialfa]] at The Stone Pony.]]

=== <span class="anchor" id="The Castiles"></span> 1964–1972: Early career ===
In 1964, Springsteen saw [[the Beatles]]' televised appearances on ''[[The Ed Sullivan Show]]''. Inspired, he bought his first guitar for $18.95 at the [[Western Auto]] appliance store.<ref name="Crandall" />{{sfn|Statham|2013|pp=12–13}} Thereafter, he started playing for audiences with a band called the Rogues at local venues, including [[Elks Lodge]] in Freehold.{{sfn|Carlin|2012|p=26}} Later that year, his mother took out a loan to buy him a $60 [[Kent (guitar)|Kent]] guitar, an act he later memorialized in his song "The Wish". In 1965, he went to the house of Tex and Marion Vinyard, who sponsored young bands in town. They helped him become the lead guitarist and subsequently one of the lead singers of [[the Castiles]], a band that recorded two original songs at a public recording studio in [[Brick Township]] and played a variety of venues, including [[Cafe Wha?]] in [[Greenwich Village]]. Marion Vinyard said she believed the young Springsteen when he promised he would make it big.{{sfn|Statham|2013|p=}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 17, 2002 |title=Musicians' best friends to be honored in Freehold |url=http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2002/0417/Front_page/003.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090223191210/http://newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2002/0417/Front_page/003.html |archive-date=February 23, 2009 |access-date=June 9, 2012 |website=News Transcript |location=New Jersey}}</ref> In the late 1960s, Springsteen performed briefly in a [[power trio]] known as Earth, who played in various clubs in New Jersey and at a major show at the Hotel Diplomat in [[New York City]].{{sfn|Statham|2013|p=}}

{{quote box |align=left |width=25em |quote=This was different, shifted the lay of the land. Four guys, playing and singing, writing their own material. [...] Rock 'n' roll came to my house where there seemed to be no way out [...] and opened up a whole world of possibilities.
|source= —Springsteen on the [[cultural impact of the Beatles|impact of the Beatles]]<ref name="Crandall">{{Cite web |last=Crandall |first=Bill |date=February 6, 2014 |title=10 musicians who saw the Beatles standing there |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/10-musicians-who-saw-the-beatles-standing-there/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420144355/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/10-musicians-who-saw-the-beatles-standing-there/ |archive-date=April 20, 2020 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref>}}

From 1969 through early 1971, Springsteen performed with the band Child, which later changed its name to [[Steel Mill]] and included [[Danny Federici]], [[Vini Lopez]], [[Vinnie Roslin]], and later [[Steven Van Zandt]] and [[Robbin Thompson]]. Steel Mill performed at various [[Jersey Shore]] venues and also outside of New Jersey, in [[Richmond, Virginia]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 29, 1986 |title=The Boss Growing Up in Richmond |work=[[The Commonwealth Times]] |url=http://dig.library.vcu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/com/id/7779/rec/36 |url-status=dead |access-date=January 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112138/http://dig.library.vcu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/com/id/7779/rec/36 |archive-date=April 2, 2015}}</ref> [[Nashville, Tennessee]], and [[California]],{{sfn|Statham|2013|p=}} and gathered a cult following. In his January 1970 review of Steel Mill's show at [[The Matrix (club)|The Matrix]], music critic Philip Elwood wrote in the ''[[San Francisco Examiner]]'' that he had "never been so overwhelmed by a totally unknown talent"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Comaratta |first=Len |date=March 3, 2012 |title=Dusting 'Em Off: Bruce Springsteen with Steel Mill – Live at the Matrix, San Francisco 1/13/70 |url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2012/03/dusting-em-off-bruce-springsteen-with-steel-mill-live-at-the-matrix-san-francisco-11370/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016023707/https://consequenceofsound.net/2012/03/dusting-em-off-bruce-springsteen-with-steel-mill-live-at-the-matrix-san-francisco-11370/ |archive-date=October 16, 2020 |access-date=October 14, 2020}}</ref> and called Steel Mill "the first big thing that's happened to [[Asbury Park]] since the good ship [[SS Morro Castle (1930)|''Morro Castle'']] burned to the waterline of that Jersey beach in '34".{{sfn|Statham|2013|p=}} Elwood praised the band's "cohesive musicality" and called Springsteen "a most impressive composer".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Elwood |first=Philip |date=January 14, 1970 |title=A Memorable Wet Night with the Steel Mill |work=San Francisco Examiner |url=https://pusabase.com/blog/2020/01/13/steel-mill-live-at-the-matrix-50th-anniversary-edition/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014045022/https://pusabase.com/blog/2020/01/13/steel-mill-live-at-the-matrix-50th-anniversary-edition/ |archive-date=October 14, 2020}}</ref> In [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], Steel Mill recorded three original Springsteen songs at Pacific Recording.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 22, 2020 |title=Kingdom of Days: February 22 |url=https://estreetshuffle.com/index.php/2020/02/22/kingdom-of-days-february-22/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101073311/https://estreetshuffle.com/index.php/2020/02/22/kingdom-of-days-february-22/ |archive-date=November 1, 2020 |access-date=October 27, 2020 |website=E Street Shuffle |quote=("He's Guilty," "Goin' Back to Georgia," and "The Train Song")...This is only Bruce's second time in a recording studio.}}</ref>

As Springsteen sought to shape a unique and genuine musical and lyrical style, he performed with the bands Dr. Zoom & the Sonic Boom from early-to-mid-1971, the Sundance Blues Band in mid-1971, and the Bruce Springsteen Band from mid-1971 to mid-1972.<ref>{{cite book|last=Santelli|first = Robert| date = September 28, 2006| title = Greetings From E Street: The Story of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band| publisher = Chronicle Books| isbn = 0-8118-5348-9}}</ref> His songwriting ability included, as his future record label described it in early publicity campaigns, "more words in some individual songs than other artists had in whole albums". He brought his skills to the attention of several people who went on to prove influential to his career development, including managers [[Mike Appel]] and Jim Cretecos, who in turn brought him to the attention of [[John Hammond (record producer)|John Hammond]], a talent scout at [[Columbia Records]]. In May 1972, Springsteen auditioned for Hammond.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lifton |first=Dave |title=Revisiting Bruce Springsteen's Columbia Records Audition |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-auditioned-for-columbia-records-40-years-ago-this-month/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507213653/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-auditioned-for-columbia-records-40-years-ago-this-month/ |archive-date=May 7, 2019 |access-date=August 6, 2019 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=May 2, 2015}}</ref>

In October 1972, Springsteen formed a new band for the recording of his debut album, ''[[Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.]]'' The band eventually became known as the [[E Street Band]], although the name was not used until September 1974.<ref name="rs-esb">{{Cite magazine |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |date=January 21, 2009 |title=The Band on Bruce: Their Springsteen |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/25556603/the_band_on_bruce_their_springsteen/print |url-status=dead |access-date=February 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401080648/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/25556603/the_band_on_bruce_their_springsteen |archive-date=April 1, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bruce Springsteen Bands: from Rogues to E Street Band, passing from Castiles and Steel Mill |url=http://www.brucespringsteen.it/e_streetx.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303193948/http://www.brucespringsteen.it/e_streetx.htm |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |publisher=brucespringsteen.it}}</ref> Springsteen acquired the nickname "the Boss" during this period, since he took on the task of collecting his band's nightly pay and distributing it among his bandmates.<ref name="bbc-nicknames">{{Cite news |last=Brett |first=Oliver |date=January 15, 2009 |title=What's in a nickname? |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7829013.stm |url-status=live |access-date=January 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090118223753/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7829013.stm |archive-date=January 18, 2009}}</ref> The nickname also reportedly sprang from games of ''[[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]]'', which Springsteen played with other Jersey Shore musicians.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Marchand |first=Francois |date=November 29, 2012 |title=Review: Bruce Springsteen rocks like a boss in Vancouver |work=The Vancouver Sun |url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/Review+Bruce+Springsteen+rocks+like+boss+Vancouver/7612975/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=September 7, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830170940/http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Review%20Bruce%20Springsteen%20rocks%20like%20boss%20Vancouver/7612975/story.html |archive-date=August 30, 2017}}</ref>

===1972–1974: Initial struggle===
Springsteen was signed to [[Columbia Records]] in 1972 by John Hammond, who had signed [[Bob Dylan]] to the same label a decade earlier. Despite the expectations of Columbia Records' executives that Springsteen would record an acoustic album, he brought many of his New Jersey–based colleagues with him, who would later form the E Street Band, which the band formally named several months later. His debut album ''[[Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.]]'', was released in January 1973, and established him as a critical favorite,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bangs |first=Lester |author-link=Lester Bangs |date=July 5, 1973 |title=Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/107193/greetings_from_asbury_park_nj |url-status=dead |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919090512/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/107193/greetings_from_asbury_park_nj |archive-date=September 19, 2008 |access-date=March 21, 2010}}</ref> though sales were slow.

Because of Springsteen's lyrical poeticism and [[folk rock]]-rooted music exemplified on tracks like "[[Blinded by the Light]]" and "[[For You (Bruce Springsteen song)|For You]]", and his connection with Hammond and Columbia Records, critics initially compared Springsteen to [[Bob Dylan]]. "He sings with a freshness and urgency I haven't heard since I was rocked by '[[Like a Rolling Stone]]'", ''[[Crawdaddy (magazine)|Crawdaddy]]'' magazine editor [[Peter Knobler]] wrote in a March 1973 profile of Springsteen's that included photographs taken by [[Ed Gallucci]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ed Gallucci Photography |url=http://www.edgallucciphotography.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140111052624/http://www.edgallucciphotography.com/ |archive-date=January 11, 2014 |access-date=March 17, 2014 |publisher=Ed Gallucci Photography}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=''Glory Days: A Bruce Springsteen Symposium''. Monmouth University |url=http://www.usi.edu/glory-days/agenda-events |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402155345/http://www.usi.edu/glory-days/agenda-events |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |access-date=March 17, 2014 |publisher=Usi.edu}}</ref> ''Crawdaddy'' was an early champion of Springsteen; Knobler profiled him in the magazine three times, in 1973, 1975, and 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2, 2009 |title=History of ''Crawdaddy'' |url=http://beatpatrol.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/peter-knobler-crawdaddy-2008/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805210655/http://beatpatrol.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/peter-knobler-crawdaddy-2008/ |archive-date=August 5, 2009 |access-date=March 21, 2010 |publisher=crawdaddy.com}}</ref> In June 1976, Springsteen and the E Street Band acknowledged the magazine's support by giving a private performance at the magazine's 10th Anniversary Party in New York City.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rockwell |first=John |date=May 9, 1976 |title=''Crawdaddy'' Party Mirrors Magazine |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/09/archives/crawdaddy-party-mirrors-magazine.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102065905/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40C15F93C5B167493CBA9178DD85F428785F9 |archive-date=November 2, 2012}}</ref>

Springsteen's second album, ''[[The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle]]'', was released in November 1973, eleven months after ''Greetings from Asbury Park''. Like Springsteen's inaugural album, ''The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle'' was met with critical acclaim but limited commercial success. Springsteen's songs became grander in form and scope with the E Street Band providing a less folksy, more [[rhythm and blues]] vibe, and lyrics that romanticized teenage street life. "[[4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)]]" and "Incident on 57th Street" became fan favorites, while "[[Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)]]" continues to rank among Springsteen's most beloved concert numbers. "Rosalita" is the ninth-most played song in Springsteen's concert catalog; as of June 2020, he has played it live 809 times.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lifton |first=Dave |date=June 4, 2020 |title=Which Songs Has Bruce Springsteen Played The Most In Concert? |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-most-played-songs/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112040826/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-most-played-songs/ |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |website=UltimateClassicRock.com}}</ref>

In February 1974, [[The Stone Pony]], a music venue and bar, opened on Ocean Avenue in [[Asbury Park]], and Springsteen played there regularly. Several years later, in the early 1980s, prior to the start of the [[Born in the U.S.A. Tour]] in June 1984, Springsteen also met his second and current wife [[Patti Scialfa]] at The Stone Pony during her performance there. As a regular venue for Springsteen, [[Jon Bon Jovi]], [[Southside Johnny]], and other local national acts, The Stone Pony has since been described as "an integral part of music history for decades."<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/10/17/nyregion/stone-pony-asbury-park-nj.html "How a legendary club rode the ups and downs of the Jersey Shore's most rocking town"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', October 17, 2019</ref>

After seeing Springsteen's performance at the Harvard Square Theater, music critic [[Jon Landau]] wrote in the May 22, 1974, issue of [[Boston]]'s ''[[The Real Paper]]'' that, "I saw rock and roll future, and its name is Bruce Springsteen."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Landau |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Landau |date=May 22, 1974 |title=Growing Young With Rock and Roll |work=[[The Real Paper]] |url=https://ew.com/ew/article/0,,20057685_20057687_20152218,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=March 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100116052323/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C20057685_20057687_20152218%2C00.html |archive-date=January 16, 2010}}</ref> Springsteen met Landau in Boston a month prior and the two became close friends;{{sfn|Carlin|2012|pp=178–179}}{{sfn|Dolan|2012|pp=104–105}} Landau subsequently became the co-producer of Springsteen's next album, ''[[Born to Run]]'', in February 1975.{{sfn|Marsh|1981|p=146}}{{sfn|Masur|2010|p=54}} As Springsteen's last-ditch effort at a commercially viable record, Springsteen became bogged down in the recording process while striving for a "[[Wall of Sound]]" production.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=86–89}} When his manager, [[Mike Appel]], orchestrated the release of an early mix of "[[Born to Run (song)|Born to Run]]" to nearly a dozen radio stations, anticipation built toward the album's release.{{sfn|Masur|2010|p=48}}

The album took over 14 months to record with six months spent recording "Born to Run" alone.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=71–72}} E Street Band members David Sancious and Ernest Carter departed after "Born to Run" was completed, and were replaced by [[Roy Bittan]] and [[Max Weinberg]] on piano and drums, respectively.{{sfn|Gaar|2016|p=50}}{{sfn|Carlin|2012|pp=182–184}} Springsteen battled with anger and frustration throughout the sessions, saying he heard "sounds in [his] head" that he could not explain to the others in the studio.<ref name="week">{{cite web |last=Moss |first=Charles |url=https://theweek.com/articles/569558/born-run-40-short-history-album-that-turned-bruce-springsteen-into-americas-biggest-rock-star |title=Born to Run at 40: A short history of the album that turned Bruce Springsteen into America's biggest rock star |work=[[The Week]] |date=August 24, 2015 |access-date=June 19, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316033829/http://theweek.com/articles/569558/born-run-40-short-history-album-that-turned-bruce-springsteen-into-americas-biggest-rock-star |archive-date=March 16, 2017}}</ref> He also dealt with two producers who had opposing views, which Springsteen had to meet in the middle of.{{sfn|Carlin|2012|p=194}} During the recording of "[[Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out]]", Steven Van Zandt conceived the horn parts for the horn players on the spot in the studio after Springsteen and Bittan had failed to write proper ones by the time the players arrived to record. He joined the E Street Band shortly after.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=80–81}}{{sfn|Carlin|2012|pp=196–197}}{{sfn|Masur|2010|pp=57–58}} Mixing for ''Born to Run'' lasted until July 20, 1975, just before a concert tour began.{{sfn|Carlin|2012|pp=197–199}}{{sfn|Dolan|2012|pp=124–125}}

''Born to Run'' was mastered while the band was on the road. Springsteen was furious at the initial acetate, throwing it into the swimming pool of the hotel he was staying at. He contemplated scrapping the entire project and re-recording it live before he was stopped by Landau.{{sfn|Carlin|2012|pp=197–199}}{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|p=75}} Springsteen was sent multiple mixes as he was on the road and rejected all of them, approving the final one in early August.{{sfn|Dolan|2012|pp=125–126}}{{sfn|Masur|2010|p=62}}

===1975–1983: ''Born to Run'' and breakthrough success===
''[[Born to Run]]'' was released in August 1975. It proved to be a breakthrough album<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2015 |title=How Bruce Springsteen Made 'Born To Run' an American Masterpiece |url=https://observer.com/2015/08/how-bruce-springsteen-made-born-to-run-an-american-masterpiece/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704091905/https://observer.com/2015/08/how-bruce-springsteen-made-born-to-run-an-american-masterpiece/ |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |access-date=July 4, 2019 |website=[[The New York Observer]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kahn |first=Ashley |date=November 10, 2005 |title=Springsteen Looks Back On 'Born to Run' |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB113157733159792810 |url-status=live |access-date=July 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704091911/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB113157733159792810 |archive-date=July 4, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2019 |title=Bruce Springsteen looks for mercy and deliverance in new album 'Western Stars' |url=https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2019/06/20/bruce-springsteen-looks-mercy-and-deliverance-new-album-western-stars |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704091906/https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2019/06/20/bruce-springsteen-looks-mercy-and-deliverance-new-album-western-stars |archive-date=July 4, 2019 |access-date=July 4, 2019 |website=America Magazine}}</ref> that catapulted Springsteen to worldwide fame.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Hiatt |first=Brian |date=November 17, 2005 |title=Bruce Springsteen's 'Born to Run' Turns 30 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteens-born-to-run-turns-30-57678/ |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925212225/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteens-born-to-run-turns-30-57678/ |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=July 4, 2019}}</ref> The album peaked at No. 3 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' Top LPs & Tape]] chart, eventually going seven times platinum in the US.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=70–71}} The album's two singles, "Born to Run" and "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out" reached No. 23 and 83, respectively, on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.{{sfn|Dolan|2012|p=128}}<ref>{{cite web |last=Lifton |first=Dave |title=Bruce Springsteen's 'Born to Run': A Track-by-Track Guide |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-born-to-run-songs/ |website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]] |access-date=August 10, 2023 |date=August 22, 2020 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232707/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-born-to-run-songs/ |url-status=live}}</ref> According to author Louis Masur, the album's success was tied to the fears of growing old held by a generation of late teenagers.{{sfn|Masur|2010|pp=111–112}}

In October 1975, Springsteen appeared on the covers of both ''[[Newsweek]]'' and ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' in the same week, becoming the first artist to do so.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lifton |first=Dave |title=Revisiting Bruce Springsteen's 'Time' and 'Newsweek' Covers |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-time-newsweek/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617132317/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-time-newsweek/ |archive-date=June 17, 2019 |access-date=August 6, 2019 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=October 27, 2015}}</ref> The magazines' cover stories resulted in a media backlash,{{sfn|Masur|2010|p=132}} as critics began wondering if Springsteen was for real or the product of record company promotion.<ref>{{cite web |last=Edwards |first=Henry |title=If There Hadn't Been a Bruce Springsteen, Then the Critics Would Have Made Him Up; The Invention of Bruce Springsteen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/05/archives/if-there-hadnt-been-a-bruce-springsteen-then-the-critics-would-have.html |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=August 10, 2023 |date=October 5, 1975 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230641/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/05/archives/if-there-hadnt-been-a-bruce-springsteen-then-the-critics-would-have.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rockwell |first=John |author-link=John Rockwell |title=The Pop Life; 'Hype' and the Springsteen Case |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/24/archives/the-pop-life-hype-and-the-springsteen-case.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=August 10, 2023 |date=October 24, 1975 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230642/https://www.nytimes.com/1975/10/24/archives/the-pop-life-hype-and-the-springsteen-case.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Springsteen was hurt by the backlash{{sfn|Masur|2010|p=133}} and disliked his newfound attention. When the E Street Band arrived in London for their first concerts outside North America,{{sfn|Gaar|2016|p=61}} Springsteen personally tore down promotional posters in the lobby of the [[Hammersmith Odeon]].{{sfn|Carlin|2012|pp=212–213}}

[[File:Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 1977.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Springsteen and the E Street Band in February 1977]]
A legal battle with Appel kept Springsteen out of the studio for nearly a year, during which time he kept the E Street Band together through [[Born to Run tours|extensive touring across the U.S.]] and continued writing new material.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=102–109}}<ref name="CameronGuardian">{{cite web |last=Cameron |first=Keith |title=Bruce Springsteen: 'People thought we were gone. Finished' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/sep/23/bruce-springsteen-darkness-edge-town |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=September 23, 2010 |access-date=January 30, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002195304/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/sep/23/bruce-springsteen-darkness-edge-town |archive-date=October 2, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> Reaching a settlement with Appel in May 1977,{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=102–109}} Springsteen returned to the studio, and the subsequent nine-month recording sessions with the E Street Band produced ''[[Darkness on the Edge of Town]]''.{{sfn|Carlin|2012|p=345}} The record stripped the "Wall of Sound" production of ''Born to Run''{{sfn|Dolan|2012|pp=149–152}}{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=114–115}} for a rawer [[hard rock]] sound.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=102–109}}{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|2007|pp=56–61}} Its lyrics focus on ill-fortuned people who fight back against overwhelming odds.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=102–109}}{{sfn|Springsteen|2016|p=262}}

Released in June 1978,{{sfn|Gaar|2016|p=71}} ''Darkness on the Edge of Town'' sold fewer copies than its predecessor,<ref>{{cite web |last=Ruhlmann |first=William |title=''Darkness on the Edge of Town'' – Bruce Springsteen |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/darkness-on-the-edge-of-town-mw0000191913 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117033315/https://www.allmusic.com/album/darkness-on-the-edge-of-town-mw0000191913 |url-status=live}}</ref> but remained on the ''Billboard'' chart for 167 weeks, selling three million copies in the U.S.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=102–109}}{{sfn|Gaar|2016|pp=68–70}} Its three singles—"[[Prove It All Night]]", "[[Badlands (song)|Badlands]]", and "[[The Promised Land (Bruce Springsteen song)|The Promised Land]]"—performed modestly.{{sfn|Gaar|2016|pp=68–70}} The supporting [[Darkness Tour]] was Springsteen's largest up to that point and featured shows that lasted upwards of three hours in length.{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|2007|pp=61–64}}{{sfn|Gaar|2016|pp=72–75}} The staff of ''[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]'' said the tour solidified Springsteen and the E Street Band as "one of the most exciting live acts in rock 'n' roll".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gallucci |first1=Michael |last2=DeRiso |first2=Nick |last3=Lifton |first3=Dave |last4=Filcman |first4=Debra |last5=Smith |first5=Rob |date=June 1, 2018 |title='Darkness on the Edge of Town' at 40: Our Writers Answer Five Important Questions |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/darkness-on-the-edge-of-town-roundtable/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204162955/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/darkness-on-the-edge-of-town-roundtable/ |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |access-date=January 31, 2023 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock}}</ref>

[[File:Bruce Springsteen at the New Haven Coliseum (7238976872).jpg|thumb|left|Springsteen performing in [[New Haven, Connecticut]], {{Circa|1977–1978}}]]
By the late 1970s, Springsteen earned a reputation as a songwriter whose material could provide hits for other bands. [[Manfred Mann's Earth Band]] had achieved a U.S. No. 1 pop hit with a heavily rearranged version of ''Greetings''{{'}} "Blinded by the Light" in early 1977. [[Patti Smith]] reached No. 13 with her version of Springsteen's unreleased "[[Because the Night]]" with revised lyrics by Smith in 1978. [[The Pointer Sisters]] hit No. 2 in 1979 with Springsteen's then unreleased "[[Fire (Bruce Springsteen song)|Fire]]".{{sfn|Kirkpatrick|2007|pp=52–54}} Between 1976 and 1978, Springsteen provided four compositions to [[Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes]], including "[[The Fever (Bruce Springsteen song)|The Fever]]" and "Hearts of Stone", and collaborated on four more with [[Steven Van Zandt]], producer of their first three albums.{{sfn|Carlin|2012|pp=}}

In September 1979, Springsteen and the E Street Band joined the [[Musicians United for Safe Energy]] [[Anti-nuclear movement|anti-nuclear power]] collective at [[Madison Square Garden]] for two nights, playing an abbreviated set while premiering two songs from his upcoming album. The subsequent ''[[No Nukes (album)|No Nukes]]'' live album, as well as the following summer's ''[[No Nukes (film)|No Nukes]]'' documentary film, represented the first official recordings and footage of Springsteen's fabled live act and Springsteen's first tentative dip into political involvement.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=December 26, 2018 |title=Bruce Springsteen Releases Complete 'No Nukes 1979' Concert |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-no-nukes-1979-concerts-772755/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116183304/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-no-nukes-1979-concerts-772755/ |archive-date=January 16, 2021 |access-date=January 8, 2021}}</ref>

The recording sessions for Springsteen's fifth album, ''[[The River (Bruce Springsteen album)|The River]]'', lasted 18 months.{{sfn|Carlin|2012|p=270}} The 20-track [[double album]]{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=144–146}} was an attempt at capturing the energy and feel of the E Street Band playing live on stage<ref>{{cite web |last=Rose |first=Caryn |title=Springsteen's new ties that bind box set |url=https://www.salon.com/2015/12/07/springsteens_new_ties_that_bind_box_set_chronicles_the_fascinating_and_frustrating_road_to_the_river/ |website=[[Salon.com]] |date=December 7, 2015 |access-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206193756/https://www.salon.com/2015/12/07/springsteens_new_ties_that_bind_box_set_chronicles_the_fascinating_and_frustrating_road_to_the_river/ |url-status=live}}</ref> and featured a mix of party songs and introspective ballads.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Smith |first1=Larry David |last2=Rutter |first2=Jon |year=2008 |title=There's a Reckoning on the Edge of Town: Bruce Springsteen's Darkness on The River |journal=Journal of Popular Music Studies |location=[[Ball State University]] |publisher=Wiley Online Library |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=109–128 |doi=10.1111/j.1533-1598.2008.00153.x | issn=1524-2226}}</ref> Released in October 1980, ''The River'' became Springsteen's biggest and fastest-selling album yet, topping the U.S. ''Billboard'' chart.{{sfn|Dolan|2012|pp=167–181}} The single "[[Hungry Heart]]" became his first top ten single as a performer, reaching number five,{{sfn|Dolan|2012|pp=167–181}} while "[[Fade Away (Bruce Springsteen song)|Fade Away]]" reached No. 20.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=186–187}}

[[File:Springsteen 05051981 01 200.jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|Springsteen performing in [[Oslo]], Norway, in May 1981]]
Several songs on ''The River'' foreshadowed the direction of Springsteen's next record,{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=142–144}} the [[Minimal music|minimalist]], folk-inspired solo effort ''[[Nebraska (album)|Nebraska]]'', released in September 1982.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=192–193}} Springsteen recorded the songs on the album as [[Demo (music)|demo]] recordings at his home in [[Colts Neck, New Jersey]], intending to re-record them with the E Street Band, but after poor test sessions he decided to release the recordings as is.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=HHauser|title=Dusting 'Em Off: Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2013/07/dusting-em-off-bruce-springsteen-nebraska/|access-date=April 25, 2017|magazine=[[Consequence of Sound]]|date=July 20, 2013|archive-date=April 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426153200/https://consequenceofsound.net/2013/07/dusting-em-off-bruce-springsteen-nebraska/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=194–195}} The album chronicled dark hardships felt by everyday blue-collar workers, as well as bleak tales of criminals, cops, and gang wars.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=192–193}}{{sfn|Carlin|2012|p=292}} ''Nebraska'' sold minimally compared to Springsteen's three previous albums, but reached No. 3 on the ''Billboard'' chart.{{sfn|Gaar|2016|pp=82–83}} Nevertheless, it surprised critics, who praised it as a brave artistic statement.{{sfn|Gaar|2016|pp=82–83}}

===1984–1986: ''Born in the U.S.A.'' and cultural phenomenon===
In 1984, Springsteen released ''[[Born in the U.S.A.]]'', which sold 30&nbsp;million worldwide, and became one of the [[List of best-selling albums|best-selling albums of all time]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-20200576.html|title=Bruce Springsteen still shows who's boss|work=Irish Examiner|access-date=February 13, 2021|archive-date=May 17, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517000523/https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsfilmtv/music/bruce-springsteen-still-shows-whos-boss-200576.html|url-status=live}}</ref> with seven singles hitting the top ten. The [[Born in the U.S.A. (song)|title track]] was a bitter commentary on the treatment of [[Vietnam veteran]]s, some of whom were Springsteen's friends. The lyrics in the verses were entirely unambiguous when listened to, but the anthemic music and the title of the song made it hard for many, from politicians to the common person, to get the lyrics—except those in the chorus, which could be read many ways.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Guterman |first=Jimmy |title=Runaway American Dream |date=2005 |publisher=Da Capo Press |location=Cambridge, Massachusetts |page=153}}</ref> The song made a huge political impact, as he was advocating for the rights of the common working-class man.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How Ronald Reagan Changed Bruce Springsteen's Politics |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/bruce-springsteen-ronald-reagan-107448 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151220020008/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/bruce-springsteen-ronald-reagan-107448 |archive-date=December 20, 2015 |access-date=December 14, 2015 |website=[[Politico]]|date=June 4, 2014}}</ref>

[[File:SpringsteenMadison.jpg|thumb|left|Springsteen and [[E Street Band]] member [[Clarence Clemons]] performing in [[Madison, Wisconsin]]]]
The song was widely misinterpreted as [[patriotic]], and in connection with the [[1984 United States presidential election|1984 presidential campaign]] became the [[Born in the U.S.A. (song)#Political reactions|subject of considerable folklore]]. In 1984, conservative columnist [[George Will]] attended a Springsteen concert and then wrote a column praising Springsteen's work ethic. Six days after the column's publication, then President [[Ronald Reagan]], in a campaign rally in [[Hammonton, New Jersey]], made brief mention of the song, saying, "America's future rests in a thousand dreams inside your hearts. It rests in the message of hope in the songs of a man so many young Americans admire—New Jersey's own, Bruce Springsteen." Two nights later, at a concert in [[Pittsburgh]], Springsteen told the crowd, "Well, the president was mentioning my name in his speech the other day and I kind of got to wondering what his favorite album of mine must've been, you know? I don't think it was the ''Nebraska'' album. I don't think he's been listening to this one." He then began playing "Johnny 99", with its allusions to closing factories and criminals.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dolan |first=Marc |date=April 6, 2014 |title=How Ronald Reagan Changed Bruce Springsteen's Politics |work=Politico |url=http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/bruce-springsteen-ronald-reagan-107448.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809012611/http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/06/bruce-springsteen-ronald-reagan-107448.html |archive-date=August 9, 2014}}</ref>

"[[Dancing in the Dark (Bruce Springsteen song)|Dancing in the Dark]]" was the biggest of seven hit singles from ''Born in the U.S.A.'', peaking at No. 2 on the ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' singles chart. The video for the song showed a young [[Courteney Cox]] dancing on stage with Springsteen, which helped start the actress's career. The song "[[Cover Me (Bruce Springsteen song)|Cover Me]]" was written by Springsteen for [[Donna Summer]], but his record company persuaded him to keep it for the new album. A big fan of Summer's work, Springsteen wrote another song for her, "[[Protection (Donna Summer song)|Protection]]". Videos for ''Born in the U.S.A.'' were directed by [[Brian De Palma]] and [[John Sayles]]. Springsteen played on the "[[We Are the World]]" song and [[We Are the World (album)|album]] in 1985. His live cover of the [[Trapped (Jimmy Cliff song)|Jimmy Cliff song "Trapped"]] from that album received moderate airplay on US Top 40 stations as well as reaching No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' [[Top Rock Tracks]] chart.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1CQEAAAAMBAJ&q=billboard%201985&pg=PT52 |title=Billboard |date=May 11, 1985 |access-date=August 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200727134630/https://books.google.com/books?id=1CQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT52&q=billboard%201985 |archive-date=July 27, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The ''Born in the U.S.A.'' period represented the height of Springsteen's visibility in popular culture and the broadest audience he would ever reach (aided by the release of [[Arthur Baker (musician)|Arthur Baker]]'s [[remix|dance mixes]] of three of the singles). From June 15 to August 10, 1985, all seven of his albums appeared on the [[UK Albums Chart]]: the first time an artist had charted their entire back catalogue simultaneously.<ref>Roberts, David. ''[[British Hit Singles & Albums|The Guinness Book of British Hit Albums]]'', p. 444. Guinness Publishing Ltd. 7th edition (1996). {{ISBN|0-85112-619-7}}</ref>

''[[Live/1975–85]]'', a five-record box set (also on three cassettes or three CDs), was released near the end of 1986 and became the first box set to debut at No. 1 on the U.S. album charts. It is one of the most commercially successful live albums of all time, ultimately selling 13&nbsp;million units in the U.S. During the 1980s, several Springsteen [[fanzines]] were launched, including ''[[Backstreets Magazine|Backstreets]]'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Backstreets |url=https://www.backstreets.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108235901/https://www.backstreets.com/ |archive-date=January 8, 2021 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |website=backstreets.com}}</ref>

=== 1987–1991: ''Tunnel of Love'' and activism ===
Springsteen released the much more sedate and contemplative ''[[Tunnel of Love (album)|Tunnel of Love]]'' in October 1987. The album is a mature reflection on the many faces of love found, lost and squandered, and the full sound of the E Street Band is included only selectively.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=264–271}} Although it sold less than ''Born in the U.S.A.'', it was a commercial success, reaching No. 1 on the ''Billboard'' 200.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=264–271}}<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1987-11-07/ | title=Billboard 200™ | magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]}}</ref>

[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1988-0719-38, Bruce Springsteen, Konzert in der DDR.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Springsteen performing on the [[Tunnel of Love Express Tour]] at the [[Radrennbahn Weissensee]] in [[East Berlin]] in July 1988]]
On July 19, 1988, Springsteen's [[Berlin Wall#Bruce Springsteen, 1988|concert in East Germany]] attracted 300,000 spectators. Journalist Erik Kirschbaum called the concert "the most important rock concert ever, anywhere" in his 2013 book ''Rocking the Wall. Bruce Springsteen: The Berlin Concert That Changed the World''. The concert had been conceived by the [[Socialist Unity Party]]'s [[Free German Youth|youth wing]] in an attempt to placate the youth of [[East Germany]], who were hungry for more freedom and the popular music of the West. However, it is Kirschbaum's opinion that the success of the concert catalyzed opposition to the regime in East Germany, and helped contribute to the [[fall of the Berlin Wall]] the following year.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Crossland |first=David |date=June 19, 2013 |title=Chimes of Freedom: How Springsteen Helped Tear Down the Wall |work=Der Spiegel |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/book-says-springsteen-concert-helped-bring-down-berlin-wall-a-906236-2.html |url-status=live |access-date=June 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130620162251/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/book-says-springsteen-concert-helped-bring-down-berlin-wall-a-906236-2.html |archive-date=June 20, 2013}}</ref>

Later in 1988, Springsteen headlined the worldwide [[Human Rights Now!]] tour for [[Amnesty International]]. In October 1989, he dissolved the E Street Band.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Luerssen |first=John D. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4NCGDwAAQBAJ&q=In+late+1989%2C+he+dissolved+the+E+Street+Band&pg=PT229 |title=Bruce Springsteen FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Boss |date=September 1, 2012 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-61713-460-9 |language=en |access-date=October 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414022021/https://books.google.com/books?id=4NCGDwAAQBAJ&q=In+late+1989%2C+he+dissolved+the+E+Street+Band&pg=PT229 |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|p=304}}

===1992–1998: Academy award, ''Greatest Hits'', and soundtracks===
In 1992, after risking fan accusations of "going Hollywood" by moving to Los Angeles and working with [[session musician]]s, Springsteen released two albums at once: ''[[Human Touch]]'' and ''[[Lucky Town]]''.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|p=304}}

An electric band appearance on the acoustic ''[[MTV Unplugged]]'' television program (later released as ''[[In Concert/MTV Plugged]]'') was poorly received and cemented fan dissatisfaction.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hyden |first=Steven |title=Twilight of the Gods |publisher=Harper Collins |year=2018 |isbn=978-0062657138 |page=109}}</ref>

Springsteen won an [[Academy Award]] in 1994 for his song "[[Streets of Philadelphia]]", which appeared on the soundtrack to the film ''[[Philadelphia (film)|Philadelphia]]''. The video for the song shows Springsteen's actual vocal performance, recorded using a hidden microphone, to a prerecorded instrumental track. This technique was developed on the "[[Brilliant Disguise#Video|Brilliant Disguise]]" video.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|p=288}}

[[File:President Bill Clinton and Bruce Springsteen.jpg|thumb|U.S. President [[Bill Clinton]] with Springsteen in December 1997]]

In 1995, after temporarily re-organizing the E Street Band for a few new songs recorded for his first ''[[Greatest Hits (Bruce Springsteen album)|Greatest Hits]]'' album (a recording session that was chronicled in the documentary ''[[Blood Brothers (1996 film)|Blood Brothers]]''), and also one show at Tramps in New York City,{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|p=354}} he released his second folk album, ''[[The Ghost of Tom Joad]]''. The album was inspired by [[John Steinbeck]]'s ''[[The Grapes of Wrath]]'' and by ''Journey to Nowhere: The Saga of the New Underclass'', a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author [[Dale Maharidge]] and photographer [[Michael Williamson (photographer)|Michael Williamson]]. The album was generally less well-received than the thematically similar ''Nebraska'' due to the minimal [[melody]], twangy vocals, and political nature of most of the songs; however, some praised it for giving a voice to immigrants and others who rarely have one in American culture. The lengthy, worldwide, small-venue solo acoustic [[Ghost of Tom Joad Tour]] that followed presented many of his older songs in drastically reshaped acoustic form, although Springsteen had to explicitly remind his audiences to "shut the fuck up" and not to clap during the performances.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Masciotra |first=David |date=September 16, 2017 |title=Bruce Springsteen's 'The Ghost of Tom Joad', then and now |url=https://www.salon.com/2017/09/16/bruce-springsteens-the-ghost-of-tom-joad-then-and-now/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104131505/https://www.salon.com/2017/09/16/bruce-springsteens-the-ghost-of-tom-joad-then-and-now/ |archive-date=January 4, 2021 |access-date=January 7, 2021 |website=Salon}}</ref>

Following that tour, Springsteen moved from California back to New Jersey with his family.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Tyrangiel |first1=Josh |last2=Carcaterra |first2=Kate |date=August 5, 2002 |title=Bruce Rising |pages=2 of 6 |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1002987-2,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=March 23, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224174330/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C1002987-2%2C00.html |archive-date=December 24, 2007}}</ref> In 1998, he released the sprawling, four-disc [[box set]] of [[outtake]]s, ''[[Tracks (Bruce Springsteen album)|Tracks]]''. Later, he would acknowledge that the 1990s were musically a "lost period" for him: "I didn't do a lot of work. Some people would say I didn't do my best work."<ref name="rs-cover">{{Cite magazine |last=Fricke |first=David |author-link=David Fricke |date=February 5, 2009 |title=Bringing It All Back Home |magazine=Rolling Stone |url=http://www.shorefire.com/media/R1071Bruce_20090123_113016.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=May 3, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325122048/http://www.shorefire.com/media/R1071Bruce_20090123_113016.pdf |archive-date=March 25, 2009}}</ref>

===1999–2007: ''The Rising'', ''Devils & Dust'', and other releases===
Springsteen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 by [[Bono]] (the lead singer of U2), a favor he returned in 2005.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mar |first=Alex |date=February 25, 2005 |title=Springsteen to Induct U2 into Hall of Fame |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/springsteen-to-induct-u2-into-hall-of-fame-20050225 |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403031438/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/springsteen-to-induct-u2-into-hall-of-fame-20050225 |archive-date=April 3, 2015 |access-date=March 18, 2015}}</ref>

In 1999, Springsteen and the E Street Band reunited and began their extensive [[Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Reunion Tour|Reunion Tour]], which lasted over a year. Highlights included a record sold-out, 15-show run at [[Continental Airlines Arena]] in [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]] and a ten-night, sold-out engagement at New York City's Madison Square Garden. A new song played at these shows, "[[American Skin (41 Shots)]]" (about the police shooting of [[Amadou Diallo]]), proved controversial.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|pp=609–610}}

[[File:RisingTourGiantsStadiumLot.jpg|thumb|The scene outside [[Giants Stadium]] during Springsteen's record-setting, 10-night stand at the stadium on [[The Rising Tour]] in July 2003]]
In 2002, Springsteen released his first studio effort with the full band in 18 years, ''[[The Rising (album)|The Rising]]'', produced by [[Brendan O'Brien (music producer)|Brendan O'Brien]]. The album, mostly a reflection on the [[September 11 attacks]], was a critical and popular success. [[The Rising (Bruce Springsteen song)|The title track]] gained airplay in several radio formats, and the record became Springsteen's best-selling album of new material in 15 years. Kicked off by an early-morning Asbury Park appearance on ''[[The Today Show]]'', [[The Rising Tour]] commenced; the band barnstormed through a series of single-night arena stands in the U.S. and Europe. Springsteen played an unprecedented 10 nights at [[Giants Stadium]] in New Jersey.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiederhorn |first=Jon |date=September 16, 2003 |title=Springsteen Is Box-Office Boss With Projected $120M Gross |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1478248/20030916/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305020658/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1478248/20030916/story.jhtml |archive-date=March 5, 2010 |publisher=MTV}}</ref>

''The Rising'' won the Grammy for [[Best Rock Album]] and was nominated for [[Grammy Award for Album of the Year|Album of the Year]] at the [[45th Annual Grammy Awards]] in 2003. In addition, "The Rising" won the Grammy for [[Best Rock Song]] and for [[Best Male Rock Vocal Performance]], and nominated for [[Grammy Award for Song of the Year|Song of the Year.]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 4, 2019 |title=Bruce Springsteen |url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/bruce-springsteen |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406060819/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/bruce-springsteen |archive-date=April 6, 2019 |access-date=March 27, 2018 |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences}}</ref> At the ceremony, Springsteen performed [[the Clash]]'s "[[London Calling (song)|London Calling]]" with [[Elvis Costello]], [[Dave Grohl]], and E Street Band member Steven Van Zandt and [[No Doubt]]'s bassist, [[Tony Kanal]], in tribute to [[Joe Strummer]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Runtagh |first1=Jordan |last2=Bienstock |first2=Richard |date=February 11, 2016 |title=15 Great Grammy Tribute Performances |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/15-great-grammy-tribute-performances-17553/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226112621/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/15-great-grammy-tribute-performances-17553/ |archive-date=February 26, 2021 |access-date=January 8, 2021}}</ref> In 2004, Springsteen and the E Street Band participated in the [[Vote for Change]] tour, with [[John Mellencamp]], [[John Fogerty]], the [[Dixie Chicks]], [[Pearl Jam]], [[R.E.M.]], [[Bright Eyes (band)|Bright Eyes]], the [[Dave Matthews Band]], [[Jackson Browne]], and other musicians.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/bruce-springsteen-michael-stipe-collaborate-because-the-night-and-bad-day|title="Michael, come out and sing one with me please." Watch American icons Bruce Springsteen and Michael Stipe collaborate on a cover of Patti Smith's Because The Night and perform R.E.M. deep cut Bad Day together back in 2004|first=Paul|last=Branniganpublished|date=March 5, 2025|website=louder}}</ref>

[[File:Bruce Springsteen 2005.jpg|thumb|left|An acoustic guitar number by Springsteen during the [[Devils & Dust Tour]] at the [[Festhalle Frankfurt]] in June 2005]]
The solo record ''[[Devils & Dust]]'' was released in April 2005. It is a low-key, mostly acoustic album, in the same vein as ''Nebraska'' and ''The Ghost of Tom Joad''. Some of the material was written almost 10 years earlier, during or shortly after the Ghost of Tom Joad Tour; a few of the songs had been performed at that time but unreleased.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McShane |first=Larry |date=February 16, 2005 |title=New Springsteen Album Due in April |work=ABC News |agency=Associated Press |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=505843 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050411150147/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=505843 |archive-date=April 11, 2005}}</ref> The [[Devils & Dust (song)|title track]] concerns an ordinary soldier's feelings and fears during the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|Iraq War]]. The album topped the charts in ten countries. Springsteen began the solo [[Devils & Dust Tour]] at the same time as the album's release, playing both small and large venues. Attendance was disappointing in a few regions, and except in Europe tickets were easier to get than in the past.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 2, 2006 |title=Springsteen Does Seeger On First Covers Album |url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59518/springsteen-does-seeger-on-first-covers-album |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112054115/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/59518/springsteen-does-seeger-on-first-covers-album |archive-date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=January 8, 2021}}</ref>

[[File:Bruce Springsteen Milan 2006 05 12.jpg|thumb|Springsteen and [[the Sessions Band]] performing [[Sessions Band Tour|on their tour]] at the [[Fila Forum]] in [[Milan]], Italy in May 2006]]
In April 2006, Springsteen released ''[[We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions]]'', an American roots music project focused around a big folk sound treatment of 15 songs popularized by the radical musical activism of [[Pete Seeger]]. A [[Bruce Springsteen with The Seeger Sessions Band Tour|tour]] began the same month, with the 18-strong ensemble of musicians dubbed the Seeger Sessions Band (and later shortened to the Sessions Band). The tour proved very popular in Europe, selling out everywhere and receiving some excellent reviews,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Manzoor |first=Sarfraz |date=May 14, 2006 |title=A runaway American dream |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,1774131,00.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126112411/http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0%2C%2C1774131%2C00.html |archive-date=January 26, 2008}}</ref> but newspapers reported that a number of U.S. shows suffered from sparse attendance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bruce Springsteen and the Seeger Sessions Band – PopMatters Concert Review |url=https://popmatters.com/music/concerts/s/springsteen-bruce-060531.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525011903/http://www.popmatters.com/music/concerts/s/springsteen-bruce-060531.shtml |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |access-date=August 27, 2010 |website=PopMatters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tianen |first=Dave |date=June 15, 2006 |title=Born to strum |work=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |url=http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=436152 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118060401/http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=436152 |archive-date=November 18, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/chi-springsteen-review-story,1,5443206.story |access-date=August 27, 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Springsteen's next album, ''[[Magic (Bruce Springsteen album)|Magic]]'', was released in October 2007. Recorded with the E Street Band, it had 10 new Springsteen songs plus "[[Long Walk Home]]", performed once with the Sessions band, and a hidden track (the first included on a Springsteen studio release), "[[Terry's Song]]", a tribute to Springsteen's long-time assistant Terry Magovern, who died in July 2007.<ref name="back">[http://www.backstreets.com/news.html "Terry Magovern, Rest in Peace"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208074157/http://backstreets.com/news.html |date=February 8, 2009}}, Backstreets.com, August 1, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2007.</ref> ''Magic'' debuted at No. 1 in the U.S.,<ref>{{cite magazine |first=Katie |last=Hasty |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/springsteen-is-boss-of-album-chart-with-magic-1048343/ |title=Springsteen Is Boss Of Album Chart With 'Magic' |magazine=Billboard |date=October 10, 2007 |access-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-date=February 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230224122612/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/springsteen-is-boss-of-album-chart-with-magic-1048343/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Ireland and the UK.{{sfn|Margotin|Guesdon|2020|p=503}} Springsteen supported the album on the [[Magic Tour (Bruce Springsteen)|Magic Tour]], his first tour with the E Street Band since 2003.<ref name="sf">{{cite web|url=http://www.shorefire.com/index.php?a=pressrelease&o=1279 |title=Bruce Springsteen And The E Street Band Announce First Full Scale Tour Of US & Europe Since 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928132515/http://www.shorefire.com/index.php?a=pressrelease&o=1279 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |work=[[Shore Fire Media]] |date=August 28, 2007 |access-date=August 28, 2007}}</ref> It was the final tour for longtime E Street member [[Danny Federici]], who died in 2008.{{sfn|Carlin|2012|pp=430–431}}

===2008–2011: Political involvement, Super Bowl XLIII, and Kennedy Center Honors===
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Springsteen supported [[Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign]].<ref name="USA Today-2008">{{Cite news |date=April 16, 2008 |title=Springsteen endorses Obama for president |work=USA Today |agency=Associated Press |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-04-16-springsteen_N.htm |url-status=live |access-date=April 16, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417074552/http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-04-16-springsteen_N.htm |archive-date=April 17, 2008}}</ref> He gave solo acoustic performances in support of Obama's campaign throughout 2008,<ref name="Pitchfork-2008">{{Cite web |date=October 3, 2008 |title=Bruce Springsteen Adds Acoustic Obama Shows |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/146179-bruce-springsteen-adds-acoustic-obama-shows |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409171928/http://pitchfork.com/news/33651-bruce-springsteen-adds-acoustic-obama-shows/ |archive-date=April 9, 2009 |access-date=August 27, 2010 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> culminating with a November 2 rally at which he debuted the song "[[Working on a Dream (song)|Working on a Dream]]" in a duet with Scialfa.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 2, 2008 |title=Springsteen plays new 'Working on a Dream' tune at Obama rally in Cleveland |work=[[The Plain Dealer]] |url=http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2008/11/springsteen_plays_new_working.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303185747/http://www.cleveland.com/popmusic/index.ssf/2008/11/springsteen_plays_new_working.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref> Following Obama's electoral victory on November 4, Springsteen's song "The Rising" was the first song played over the loudspeakers after Obama's victory speech in Chicago's [[Grant Park (Chicago)|Grant Park]]. Springsteen was the musical opener for the [[We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial|Obama Inaugural Celebration]] on January 18, 2009, which was attended by over 400,000 people.<ref name="WP1">{{Cite news |last1=Hendrix |first1=Steve |last2=Mummolo |first2=Jonathan |date=January 18, 2009 |title=Jamming on the Mall for Obama |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/18/AR2009011800917.html?sid=ST2009011802825&s_pos= |access-date=June 5, 2022 |archive-date=September 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901235138/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/18/AR2009011800917.html?sid=ST2009011802825&s_pos= |url-status=live}}</ref> He performed "The Rising" with an all-female choir. Later he performed [[Woody Guthrie]]'s "[[This Land Is Your Land]]" with Pete Seeger.

On January 11, 2009, Springsteen won the [[Golden Globe Award for Best Song]] for "[[The Wrestler (song)|The Wrestler]]", from the [[Darren Aronofsky]] [[The Wrestler (2008 film)|film by the same name]].<ref name="GGwin">{{Cite magazine |date=September 14, 2009 |title=Springsteen, Rahman Snag Musical Golden Globes |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269633/springsteen-rahman-snag-musical-golden-globes |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425185725/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269633/springsteen-rahman-snag-musical-golden-globes |archive-date=April 25, 2014 |access-date=August 27, 2010}} Archived from the original on January 5, 2011.</ref> After receiving a heartfelt letter from lead actor [[Mickey Rourke]], Springsteen supplied the song for the film for free.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bardsley |first=Garth |date=January 12, 2009 |title=How Mickey Rourke Got Bruce Springsteen's 'Wrestler' Song – For Free – MTV Movie News |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1602516/how-mickey-rourke-got-bruce-springsteens-wrestler-song-free.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110729090316/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1602516/how-mickey-rourke-got-bruce-springsteens-wrestler-song-free.jhtml |archive-date=July 29, 2011 |access-date=December 7, 2011 |publisher=MTV}}</ref>

Springsteen performed at the [[Super Bowl halftime shows|halftime show]] at [[Super Bowl XLIII]] on February 1, 2009,<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 11, 2008 |title=Report: "The Boss" to play Super Bowl halftime show |work=[[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]] |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/scorecard/nflnews.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231085903/http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/nflnews.asp?articleID=237980 |archive-date=December 31, 2008}}.</ref> agreeing to perform after having declined on prior occasions.<ref name="nyt-laur">{{Cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=February 1, 2009 |title=The Rock Laureate |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/arts/music/01pare.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 29, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609215104/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/arts/music/01pare.html |archive-date=June 9, 2011}}</ref> A few days before the game, Springsteen gave a rare press conference at which he promised a "twelve-minute party."<ref name="sfm111708" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lapointe |first=Joe |date=January 30, 2009 |title=Springsteen Promises '12-Minute Party' at Halftime |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/sports/football/30springsteen.html |url-status=live |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417085524/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/sports/football/30springsteen.html |archive-date=April 17, 2009}}</ref> It has been reported that this press conference was Springsteen's first press conference in more than 25 years.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Carpenter |first=Les |date=January 29, 2009 |title=No Cheering in the Press Box, Except When It Comes to the Boss |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/29/AR2009012904283.html |url-status=live |access-date=July 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112200446/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/29/AR2009012904283.html |archive-date=November 12, 2012}}</ref> His 12-minute 45-second set, with the E Street Band and the Miami Horns, included abbreviated renditions of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", "Born to Run", "Working on a Dream", and "Glory Days", the latter complete with football references in place of the original baseball-themed lyrics. The set of appearances and promotional activities led Springsteen to say, "This has probably been the busiest month of my life."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wallace |first=Lindsay |date=February 10, 2009 |title=Bruce Springsteen Exclusive: 'I Didn't Even Know I Was Up For A Grammy!' |publisher=[[MTV News]] |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604738/20090210/springsteen_bruce.jhtml |url-status=dead |access-date=March 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317045041/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604738/20090210/springsteen_bruce.jhtml |archive-date=March 17, 2009}}</ref>

[[File:American Land ESB Fireworks Giants 100309.jpg|thumb|Fireworks go off at the conclusion of the "E! Street! Band!" exhortation during the final shows at [[Giants Stadium]] in October 2009]]
''[[Working on a Dream]]'', dedicated to Federici, was released in late January 2009.<ref name="sfm111708">{{Cite press release |title=Bruce Springsteen's 'Working on a Dream' Set For January 27 Release on Columbia Records |date=November 17, 2008 |publisher=[[Shore Fire Media]] |url=http://www.shorefiremedia.com/index.php?a=pressrelease&o=2462 |access-date=November 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716063703/http://www.shorefiremedia.com/index.php?a=pressrelease&o=2462 |archive-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref> The supporting [[Working on a Dream Tour]] ran from April to November 2009. The band performed five final shows at Giants Stadium, opening with a new song highlighting the historic stadium, and Springsteen's Jersey roots, named "Wrecking Ball".<ref name="nyt101109">{{Cite news |last=Pareles |first=Jon |author-link=Jon Pareles |date=October 11, 2009 |title=For Springsteen and Giants Stadium, a Last Dance |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/arts/music/12bruce.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708114624/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/arts/music/12bruce.html |archive-date=July 8, 2012}}</ref>

Springsteen received the [[Kennedy Center Honors]] on December 6, 2009. President Obama gave a speech in which he asserted that Springsteen had incorporated the lives of regular Americans into his expansive palette of songs. Obama added that Springsteen's concerts were not just rock-and-roll concerts, but "communions". The event included musical tributes from [[Melissa Etheridge]], [[Ben Harper]], John Mellencamp, [[Jennifer Nettles]], [[Sting (musician)|Sting]], and [[Eddie Vedder]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 7, 2009 |title=Obama honours Bruce Springsteen |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8398675.stm |url-status=live |access-date=April 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105060259/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8398675.stm |archive-date=January 5, 2010}}</ref>

The 2000s ended with Springsteen named one of eight Artists of the Decade by ''Rolling Stone'' magazine<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=The Voices: Artists of the Decade |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/issue1094-95 |url-status=dead |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091213013718/http://www.rollingstone.com/issue1094-95 |archive-date=December 13, 2009 |access-date=December 19, 2009}}</ref> and with Springsteen's tours ranking him fourth among artists in total concert grosses for the decade.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 11, 2009 |title=Top Touring Artists of the Decade |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266415/top-touring-artists-of-the-decade |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316061805/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/266415/top-touring-artists-of-the-decade |archive-date=March 16, 2013 |access-date=December 19, 2009}}</ref>

[[Clarence Clemons]], the E Street Band's saxophonist and founding member, died on June 18, 2011, of complications from a stroke.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 19, 2011 |title=Clarence Clemons dies of complications from stroke |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/clarence_clemons_dies.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111121160311/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/06/clarence_clemons_dies.html |archive-date=November 21, 2011 |access-date=November 20, 2011 |website=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>

===2012–2018: Autobiography and Broadway show===
[[File:Bruce Springsteen & Steven Van Zandt (7479347764).jpg|thumb|Springsteen and [[Steven Van Zandt]] performing at the [[New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival]] in 2012]]
Springsteen's 17th studio album, ''[[Wrecking Ball (Bruce Springsteen album)|Wrecking Ball]]'', was released in March 2012. The album consists of eleven tracks plus two bonus tracks. Three songs previously only available as live versions, "Wrecking Ball", "[[Land of Hope and Dreams]]", and "American Land", appear on the album.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2012 |title=Bruce Springsteen Announces New Album, Wrecking Ball |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/45149-bruce-springsteen-announces-new-album-wrecking-ball/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321073204/http://pitchfork.com/news/45149-bruce-springsteen-announces-new-album-wrecking-ball/ |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |access-date=March 19, 2012 |website=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> ''Wrecking Ball'' became Springsteen's tenth No. 1 album in the U.S., tying him with Elvis Presley for third most No. 1 albums of all time, behind the Beatles (19) and [[Jay Z]] (12) as of 2009.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=September 14, 2009 |title=Bruce Springsteen Squeaks By Adele, Earns Tenth No. 1 Album |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/502085/bruce-springsteen-squeaks-by-adele-earns-tenth-no-1-album |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130530161731/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/502085/bruce-springsteen-squeaks-by-adele-earns-tenth-no-1-album |archive-date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=March 19, 2012}}</ref> The supporting [[Wrecking Ball Tour]] shortly after its release. On July 31, 2012, in [[Helsinki]], Finland, Springsteen performed his longest concert ever at four hours and six minutes with 33 songs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 31, 2012 |title=From the road: Helsinki |url=http://brucespringsteen.net/news/2012/from-the-road-helsinki |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002233644/http://brucespringsteen.net/news/2012/from-the-road-helsinki |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |access-date=October 12, 2012 |publisher=Brucespringsteen.net}}</ref>

In 2012, Springsteen campaigned for President Barack Obama's re-election in the [[2012 United States presidential election|2012 presidential election]], appearing and performing at Obama rallies in [[Ohio]], [[Pittsburgh]], [[Iowa]], [[Virginia]], and [[Wisconsin]]. At the rallies, he briefly spoke to the audience and performed a short acoustic set that included a newly written song titled "Forward".<ref name="Knickerbocker">{{Cite web |last=Knickerbocker |first=Brad |date=October 13, 2012 |title=Bruce Springsteen rocks out for Barack Obama |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/1013/Bruce-Springsteen-rocks-out-for-Barack-Obama |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205939/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/1013/Bruce-Springsteen-rocks-out-for-Barack-Obama |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |website=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]}}</ref><ref name="Orel-2012">{{Cite web |last=Orel |first=Matt |date=November 5, 2012 |title=Bruce joins President Obama and Jay Z in Ohio |url=http://brucespringsteen.net/news/2012/bruce-joins-president-obama-and-jay-z-in-ohio |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109011827/http://brucespringsteen.net/news/2012/bruce-joins-president-obama-and-jay-z-in-ohio |archive-date=November 9, 2012 |access-date=November 6, 2012 |publisher=Brucespringsteen.net}}</ref><ref name="Sweet-2012">{{Cite news |last=Sweet |first=Lynn |date=November 6, 2012 |title=Obama makes last pitch with Boss, Jay-Z in Ohio |work=[[Chicago Sun-Times]] |url=http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/13575960-452/obama-makes-last-pitch-with-boss-jay-z-in-ohio.html |url-status=dead |access-date=November 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109044747/http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/13575960-452/obama-makes-last-pitch-with-boss-jay-z-in-ohio.html |archive-date=November 9, 2012}}</ref>

At year's end, the Wrecking Ball Tour was named ''Top Draw'' by the [[Billboard Touring Awards|''Billboard'' Touring Awards]] for having the highest attendance of any tour that year. Financially, the tour grossed second to the one by [[Roger Waters]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2012 |title=Roger Waters and Bruce Springsteen win big at Billboard Touring Awards |url=http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/entertainment/celebrity/Roger-Waters-and-Bruce-Springsteen-win-big-at-Billboard-Touring-Awards_63894667 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522215159/http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/entertainment/celebrity/Roger-Waters-and-Bruce-Springsteen-win-big-at-Billboard-Touring-Awards_63894667 |archive-date=May 22, 2013 |access-date=November 13, 2012 |publisher=Wxyz.com}}</ref> Springsteen finished second only to [[Madonna]] as the top money maker of 2012, with $33.44&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 23, 2013 |title=Madonna Edges Out Springsteen As Music's Top Money Maker |work=Starpulse |url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2013/02/23/madonna_edges_out_springsteen_as_music?ref_src=news_rss |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202092530/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2013/02/23/madonna_edges_out_springsteen_as_music?ref_src=news_rss |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |access-date=February 25, 2013 |publisher=Starpulse.com}}</ref> The ''Wrecking Ball'' album, along with the single "We Take Care of Our Own", was nominated for three [[Grammy Awards]], including Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song for "We Take Care of Our Own" and Best Rock Album.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2012 |title=Bruce Springsteen Nabs Three GRAMMY Nominations; "Springsteen" Gets Two More |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/06/bruce-springsteen-nabs-three-grammy-nominations-springsteen-gets-two-more-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607085842/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/12/06/bruce-springsteen-nabs-three-grammy-nominations-springsteen-gets-two-more-2/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=December 15, 2012 |publisher=CBS New York}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=Bruce Springsteen Added To GRAMMY Performance Lineup |date=February 2, 2012 |publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences |url=http://www.grammy.com/news/bruce-springsteen-added-to-grammy-performance-lineup |access-date=December 15, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106010825/http://www.grammy.com/news/bruce-springsteen-added-to-grammy-performance-lineup |archive-date=January 6, 2013}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' named ''Wrecking Ball'' the number one album of 2012 on their Top 50 list.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 5, 2012 |title=50 Best Albums of 2012: Bruce Springsteen, 'Wrecking Ball' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-19691231 |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121216233754/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2012-20121205/bruce-springsteen-wrecking-ball-19691231 |archive-date=December 16, 2012 |access-date=December 15, 2012}}</ref>

In late July 2013, the documentary ''[[Springsteen & I]]'', directed by [[Baillie Walsh]] and produced by [[Ridley Scott]], was released simultaneously via a worldwide cinema broadcast in over 50 countries and in over 2000 movie theaters.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 28, 2015 |title=Springsteen & I: fans tell their stories of The Boss |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/bruce-springsteen/10194440/Springsteen-and-I-fans-tell-their-stories-of-The-Boss.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102080936/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/bruce-springsteen/10194440/Springsteen-and-I-fans-tell-their-stories-of-The-Boss.html |archive-date=January 2, 2016}}</ref>

[[File:141105-D-KC128-981 (15541591358).jpg|thumb|left|Springsteen performing during the Stand Up for Heroes special in 2014]]
Springsteen released his eighteenth studio album, ''[[High Hopes (album)|High Hopes]]'', in January 2014. The first single and video were of a newly recorded version of the song "[[High Hopes (Bruce Springsteen song)|High Hopes]]", which Springsteen had previously recorded in 1995. The album was the first by Springsteen in which all songs are either cover songs, newly recorded outtakes from previous records, or newly recorded versions of songs previously released. The 2014 E Street Band touring lineup appears on the album, including material they had recorded with Clemons and Federici before their deaths.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=2013-11-25 |title=New Bruce Springsteen Album Due January 14th |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/new-bruce-springsteen-album-due-january-14th-183999/ |access-date=2024-06-11 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |language=en-US}}</ref> ''High Hopes'' became Springsteen's eleventh No. 1 album in the US.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caulfiel |first=Keith |title=Bruce Springsteen Aiming for 11th No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart |date=January 18, 2014 |url=http://music.yahoo.com/news/bruce-springsteen-aiming-11th-no-1-album-billboard-003137560.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203023033/http://music.yahoo.com/news/bruce-springsteen-aiming-11th-no-1-album-billboard-003137560.html |archive-date=February 3, 2014 |access-date=January 18, 2014 |publisher=Yahoo! Music}}</ref> It was his [[List of artists by number of UK Albums Chart number ones|tenth No. 1 in the UK]], tying him for fifth all-time with [[the Rolling Stones]] and U2.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25802202 "Bruce Springsteen scores 10th UK number one album"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102080937/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-25802202 |date=January 2, 2016}}. BBC News. Retrieved January 26, 2014</ref> ''Rolling Stone'' named ''High Hopes'' the second best album of the year (behind U2's ''[[Songs of Innocence (U2 album)|Songs of Innocence]]'') on their Top 50 Albums of 2014 list.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 2014 |title=Bruce Springsteen, 'High Hopes' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2014-20141201/bruce-springsteen-high-hopes-20141201 |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116082105/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/50-best-albums-of-2014-20141201/bruce-springsteen-high-hopes-20141201 |archive-date=January 16, 2015 |access-date=January 14, 2015}}</ref>
<!--Please do not over-expand this section with an excessive amount of trivial current-events news.-->

Springsteen made his acting debut in the final episode of season three of Van Zandt's show ''[[Lilyhammer]]'', which was named "Loose Ends" after a Springsteen song on the ''Tracks'' album.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Giles |first=Jeff |date=December 18, 2014 |title=Steve Van Zandt Talk Bruce Springsteen's 'Lillehammer' Appearance |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-lilyhammer/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227200248/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bruce-springsteen-lilyhammer/ |archive-date=February 27, 2021 |access-date=January 8, 2021 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock}}</ref>

On August 6, 2015, Springsteen performed "Land of Hope and Dreams" and "Born to Run" on the final episode of ''[[The Daily Show with Jon Stewart]]'', as Stewart's final 'Moment of Zen'. On October 16, to celebrate the 35th anniversary of ''The River'', Springsteen announced ''[[The Ties That Bind: The River Collection]]'' box set. Released on December 4, it contains four CDs (including many previously unreleased songs) and three DVDs (or Blu-ray) along with a 148-page coffee table book. In November 2015, "American Skin (41 Shots)" was performed with [[John Legend]] at ''[[Shining a Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Friedlander |first=Whitney |date=October 22, 2015 |title=A+E's 'Shining a Light' to Feature Bruce Springsteen, Jamie Foxx |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/shining-a-light-concert-bruce-springsteen-jamie-foxx-ae-iheartmedia-1201624092/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108122343/https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/shining-a-light-concert-bruce-springsteen-jamie-foxx-ae-iheartmedia-1201624092/ |archive-date=November 8, 2020 |access-date=January 9, 2021 |website=Variety}}</ref>
Springsteen made his first appearance on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' since 2002 on December 19, 2015, performing "Meet Me in the City", "[[The Ties That Bind (Bruce Springsteen song)|The Ties That Bind]]", and "[[Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 19, 2015 |title=Watch Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: The Ties That Bind From Saturday Night Live |url=https://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/bruce-springsteen-and-the-e-street-band-the-ties-that-bind/2957168 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113014839/http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/bruce-springsteen-and-the-e-street-band-the-ties-that-bind/2957168 |archive-date=January 13, 2016 |access-date=January 14, 2016 |website=NBC.com}}</ref>

[[File:SpringsteenWembley050616 (59 of 60).jpg|thumb|Springsteen and the E Street Band performing at [[Wembley Stadium]] in June 2016]]
[[The River Tour 2016]] began in January 2016 in support of ''The Ties That Bind: The River Collection'' box set. All first-leg shows in North America included an in-sequence performance of the entire ''The River'' album along with other songs from Springsteen's catalog, and all dates were recorded and made available for purchase.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2015 |title=Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band Announce 2016 The River Tour |url=http://brucespringsteen.net/news/2015/bruce-springsteen-and-the-e-street-band-announce-2016-the-river-tour-3 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221083750/http://brucespringsteen.net/news/2015/bruce-springsteen-and-the-e-street-band-announce-2016-the-river-tour-3 |archive-date=December 21, 2015 |access-date=December 4, 2015 |website=brucespringsteen.net}}</ref> In April 2016, Springsteen was one of the first artists to boycott North Carolina's anti-transgender bathroom bill.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 8, 2016 |title=A statement from Bruce Springsteen on North Carolina |url=http://brucespringsteen.net/news/2016/a-statement-from-bruce-springsteen-on-north-carolina |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523233251/http://brucespringsteen.net/news/2016/a-statement-from-bruce-springsteen-on-north-carolina |archive-date=May 23, 2019 |access-date=May 23, 2019 |website=brucespringsteen.net}}</ref> 

''[[Chapter and Verse (Bruce Springsteen album)|Chapter and Verse]]'', a compilation from throughout Springsteen's career dating back to 1966, was released in September 2016. The same month, [[Simon & Schuster]] published his 500-page autobiography, ''[[Born to Run (autobiography)|Born to Run]]''. The book rose quickly to the top of ''The New York Times'' Best Sellers List.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Newman |first=Melinda |title=Bruce Springsteen Is The Boss of the New York Times Best Sellers List With 'Born To Run' |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/melindanewman/2016/10/05/bruce-springsteen-is-the-boss-of-the-new-york-times-best-sellers-list-with-born-to-run/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161007185110/http://www.forbes.com/sites/melindanewman/2016/10/05/bruce-springsteen-is-the-boss-of-the-new-york-times-best-sellers-list-with-born-to-run/ |archive-date=October 7, 2016}}</ref>

On September 7, 2016, at [[Citizens Bank Park]] in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]], Springsteen performed for four hours and four minutes, his longest-ever show in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2016 |title=Springsteen breaks concert length record yet again in Philly; see the setlist |url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2016/09/springsteen_breaks_concert_length_record_yet_again.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160908164317/http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2016/09/springsteen_breaks_concert_length_record_yet_again.html |archive-date=September 8, 2016 |access-date=September 8, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Springsteen breaks his record for longest US show |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/springsteen-breaks-his-record-for-longest-us-show/ar-BBw5zQu?OCID=ansmsnnews11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827092253/http://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/springsteen-breaks-his-record-for-longest-us-show/ar-BBw5zQu?OCID=ansmsnnews11 |archive-date=August 27, 2016 |access-date=November 22, 2019 |publisher=[[MSN]]}}</ref> The River Tour 2016 was the top-grossing worldwide tour of 2016; it pulled in $268.3&nbsp;million globally and was the highest-grossing tour since 2014 for any artist topping [[Taylor Swift]]'s [[1989 World Tour|2015 tour]], which grossed $250.1&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 30, 2016 |title=Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé post top-grossing tours of 2016 |url=https://latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-bruce-springsteen-beyonce-top-tours-20161229-story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161230073036/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-bruce-springsteen-beyonce-top-tours-20161229-story.html |archive-date=December 30, 2016 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref>

Springsteen supported [[Hillary Clinton]]'s [[Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign|2016 presidential campaign]] by performing an acoustic set of "Thunder Road", "Long Walk Home" and "Dancing in the Dark" at a rally in Philadelphia on November 7, 2016. On November 22, Springsteen was presented with the Presidential Medal of Freedom award by [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Presidential Medal of Freedom |url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/campaign/medal-of-freedom |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120190622/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/campaign/medal-of-freedom |archive-date=January 20, 2017 |access-date=November 25, 2016 |publisher=[[White House]] |via=[[NARA|National Archives]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Bruce Springsteen, Robert De Niro, Lorne Michaels Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom |url=https://www.yahoo.com/music/bruce-springsteen-robert-niro-lorne-211600096.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161117064633/https://www.yahoo.com/music/bruce-springsteen-robert-niro-lorne-211600096.html |archive-date=November 17, 2016}}</ref> On January 12, 2017, Springsteen and Scialfa performed a special 15-song acoustic set for Barack and Michelle Obama at the [[White House]]'s East Room two days before the president gave his farewell address to the nation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Backstreets.com: 2017 Setlists |url=http://www.backstreets.com/setlists.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170120034015/http://www.backstreets.com/setlists.html |archive-date=January 20, 2017 |access-date=January 19, 2017 |website=Backstreets.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=January 19, 2017 |title=Bruce Springsteen plays farewell gig for Barack Obama at the White House |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jan/19/bruce-springsteen-farewell-gig-president-barack-obama-white-house |url-status=live |access-date=January 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119110645/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jan/19/bruce-springsteen-farewell-gig-president-barack-obama-white-house |archive-date=January 19, 2017 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

[[File:Springsteen On Broadway - Walter Kerr Theater - Thursday 2nd November 2017 SpringsteenBroadWay021117-27 (26448770829).jpg|thumb|Springsteen during a performance of ''[[Springsteen on Broadway]]'' in 2017]]
''[[Springsteen on Broadway]]'', an eight-week run at the [[Walter Kerr Theatre]] on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] in New York City in fall 2017, was announced in June 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 16, 2017 |title=Bruce Springsteen heads to Broadway this fall |work=New York Post |url=https://nypost.com/2017/06/16/bruce-springsteen-heads-to-broadway-this-fall/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616175323/http://nypost.com/2017/06/16/bruce-springsteen-heads-to-broadway-this-fall/ |archive-date=June 16, 2017}}</ref> The show included Springsteen reading excerpts from his 2016 autobiography ''Born to Run'' and performing other spoken reminiscences.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 9, 2017 |title=Bruce Springsteen Is Bringing His Music and His Memories to Broadway! |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/arts/music/bruce-springsteen-broadway-concerts.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502093725/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/09/arts/music/bruce-springsteen-broadway-concerts.html |archive-date=May 2, 2019}}</ref> Originally scheduled to run from October 12 through November 26, the show was extended three times; the last performance occurred on December 15, 2018.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=902934494524477440 |user=Ticketmaster |title=#SpringsteenBroadway has been Extended! More information coming today. There will NOT be any additional codes released for today's onsale. |date=August 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2017 |title=Springsteen on Broadway Extends Through June – Playbill |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/springsteen-on-broadway-extends-through-june |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401215411/http://www.playbill.com/article/springsteen-on-broadway-extends-through-june |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=January 18, 2018 |website=Playbill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Paulson |first=Michael |date=March 21, 2018 |title=Bruce Springsteen Signs Up for More Time on Broadway |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/theater/bruce-springsteen-broadway-extension.html |url-status=live |access-date=January 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216163230/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/21/theater/bruce-springsteen-broadway-extension.html |archive-date=December 16, 2018}}</ref> For Springsteen's production of ''Springsteen on Broadway'', he was honored with a [[Special Tony Award]] at the [[72nd Tony Awards]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bruce Springsteen on Broadway: What comes after the Tony Award? |language=en |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/nation-now/2018/05/02/bruce-springsteen-broadway-tony-award-what-next/573126002/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503175853/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/nation-now/2018/05/02/bruce-springsteen-broadway-tony-award-what-next/573126002/ |archive-date=May 3, 2018}}</ref>

The live album ''Springsteen on Broadway'' was released in December 2018. It reached the top 10 in more than 10 countries and No. 11 in the United States.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Fear |first=David |date=December 1, 2018 |title=Trailers of the Week: 'Springsteen on Broadway,' 'I Am the Night,' 'Artemis Fowl' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/trailers-of-the-week-springsteen-on-broadway-i-am-the-night-760258/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202143255/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-features/trailers-of-the-week-springsteen-on-broadway-i-am-the-night-760258/ |archive-date=December 2, 2018 |access-date=December 2, 2018}}</ref>

===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>

===Since 2022: ''Only the Strong Survive'', collaborations, touring, and ''The Lost Albums''===
[[File:Bruce_Springsteen_performing_at_Climate_Pledge_Arena_in_Seattle,_Washington_28_February_2023.jpg|thumb|Springsteen leading a sing-a-long during a concert in [[Seattle]] in February 2023]]
[[File:Bruce Springsteen, Copenhagen 2023. By Thomas Rungstrom.jpg|thumb|Springsteen performing in [[Copenhagen]], Denmark, in July 2023]]

On May 24, 2022, it was announced that he would be launching an international tour with the E Street Band in 2023, the first such since 2017.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=May 24, 2022 |title=Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Announce 2023 World Tour |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-and-the-e-street-band-2023-world-tour-1357475/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=May 24, 2022 |archive-date=May 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524040232/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-and-the-e-street-band-2023-world-tour-1357475/ |url-status=live}}</ref> On September 29, Springsteen and Patti Scialfa performed at the inaugural Albie Awards at the [[New York Public Library]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Grein |first=Paul |date=September 26, 2022 |title=Bruce Springsteen & Patti Scialfa to Perform at Inaugural Albie Awards |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/bruce-springsteen-patti-scialfa-perform-albie-awards-1235144863/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926223624/https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/bruce-springsteen-patti-scialfa-perform-albie-awards-1235144863/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In November, Springsteen released his twenty-first studio album, ''[[Only the Strong Survive (Bruce Springsteen album)|Only the Strong Survive]]'', a covers album of classic [[soul music]] songs from the 1960s and 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=September 29, 2022 |title=Bruce Springsteen to Release 'Only the Strong Survive,' New Album of Classic Soul Covers |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/bruce-springsteen-to-release-e2-80-98only-the-strong-survive-e2-80-99-new-album-of-classic-soul-covers/ar-AA12oirU |access-date=September 30, 2022 |website=MSN |archive-date=September 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930165915/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/bruce-springsteen-to-release-e2-80-98only-the-strong-survive-e2-80-99-new-album-of-classic-soul-covers/ar-AA12oirU |url-status=live}}</ref> To promote the album, Springsteen performed on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon]]'' in mid-November, along with a special [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] episode on November 24.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heching |first=Dan |date=November 9, 2022 |title=Bruce Springsteen to take over 'The Tonight Show' hosted by (his best impersonator) Jimmy Fallon |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/bruce-springsteen-to-take-over-the-tonight-show-hosted-by-his-best-impersonator-jimmy-fallon/ar-AA13W6gX |access-date=November 10, 2022 |website=[[MSN]] |archive-date=November 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221112061454/https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/bruce-springsteen-to-take-over-the-tonight-show-hosted-by-his-best-impersonator-jimmy-fallon/ar-AA13W6gX |url-status=live}}</ref>

On February 1, 2023, Springsteen and the E Street band launched [[Springsteen and E Street Band 2023 Tour|their first tour in six years]], due to conclude in July 2025. On June 15, 2023, former E Street Band member [[David Sancious]], who left the band in 1974, said that he is set to appear on a follow-up to ''Only the Strong Survive'' and that Springsteen has completed 18 songs for the album. Sancious said he expected to tour with Springsteen to support the album in 2024. In a November 2022 interview, Springsteen confirmed that he planned a Volume 2 of the album; at the time, he said it was "probably three-quarters recorded".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Bruce Springsteen Breaks Down His R&B Covers LP — and Responds to Fan Outrage Over Ticket Prices |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bruce-springsteen-covers-lp-fan-outrage-ticket-prices-1234632658/ |access-date=June 16, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=June 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230616200219/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/bruce-springsteen-covers-lp-fan-outrage-ticket-prices-1234632658/amp/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Taysom |first=Joe |date=June 15, 2023 |title=Bruce Springsteen has recorded another album of soul covers |url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/bruce-springsteen-has-recorded-another-album-of-soul-covers/ |access-date=June 16, 2023 |website=Far Out Magazine |archive-date=June 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230615201224/https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/bruce-springsteen-has-recorded-another-album-of-soul-covers/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

Springsteen provided vocals on the song "History Books" by [[the Gaslight Anthem]], the title track on the band's October 2023 album.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Greene |first=Andy |date=July 21, 2023 |title=Hear Bruce Springsteen Join The Gaslight Anthem on New Single 'History Books' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-gaslight-anthem-history-books-1234792716/ |access-date=July 21, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721014809/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bruce-springsteen-gaslight-anthem-history-books-1234792716/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The same month, he collaborated with [[Bryce Dessner]] on "Addicted to Romance", an original song for the ''[[She Came to Me (soundtrack)|She Came to Me]]'' soundtrack album.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Qureshi |first=Arusa |date=February 14, 2023 |title=Bruce Springsteen and The National's Bryce Dessner team up for new song 'Addicted To Romance' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/bruce-springsteen-and-the-nationals-bryce-dessner-team-up-for-new-song-addicted-to-romance-3398506 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301072145/https://www.nme.com/news/music/bruce-springsteen-and-the-nationals-bryce-dessner-team-up-for-new-song-addicted-to-romance-3398506 |archive-date=March 1, 2023 |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=[[NME]] |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Strauss |first=Matthew |title=Bruce Springsteen and the National's Bryce Dessner Collaborate on New Song |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/bruce-springsteen-and-the-national-bryce-dessner-collaborate-on-new-song-listen/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230930124956/https://pitchfork.com/news/bruce-springsteen-and-the-national-bryce-dessner-collaborate-on-new-song-listen/ |date=September 29, 2023 |archive-date=September 30, 2023 |access-date=October 9, 2023 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref> In September, Springsteen announced the postponement of eight shows scheduled for September. Springsteen was undergoing treatment for [[peptic ulcer]] disease and doctors recommended he not perform live. A few days later, the remaining twelve shows scheduled for November through December 2023 were also postponed to dates in March and April, and between August and November 2024. In total, twenty-nine shows on the tour were postponed due to Springsteen's illness along with Springsteen and other members of the band having [[COVID-19]].<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/us-celebrity-news/inside-bruce-springsteens-health-woes-30981287 | title=Inside Bruce Springsteen's health woes from 'dangerous' depression to throat surgery| work=mirror.co.uk| date=September 23, 2023| accessdate=September 24, 2023| archive-date=September 23, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923223646/https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/us-celebrity-news/inside-bruce-springsteens-health-woes-30981287| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://brucespringsteen.net/news/2023/september-postponements/ | title=September 2023 Postponements | work=brucespringsteen.net | date=September 6, 2023 | accessdate=September 7, 2023 | archive-date=September 7, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230907022257/https://brucespringsteen.net/news/2023/september-postponements/ | url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://brucespringsteen.net/news/2023/2023-postponements/ | title=2023 Postponements | work=brucespringsteen.net | date=September 27, 2023 | accessdate=September 27, 2023 | archive-date=September 27, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927164703/https://brucespringsteen.net/news/2023/2023-postponements/ | url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2024, [[20th Century Studios]] announced a [[biographical film]], ''[[Deliver Me from Nowhere]]'', based on the 2023 book by [[Warren Zanes]] about the making of ''Nebraska''. It is written and directed by [[Scott Cooper (director)|Scott Cooper]]; [[Jeremy Allen White]] will play Springsteen and perform his own singing.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fleming |first1=Mike Jr |last2=Kroll |first2=Justin |date=8 April 2024 |title=In Coup For New Chief David Greenbaum, 20th Century Lands 'Deliver Me From Nowhere'; Jeremy Allen White Plays Bruce Springsteen For Scott Cooper In Drama On Making Of 'Nebraska' Album |url=https://deadline.com/2024/04/bruce-springsteen-movie-jeremy-allen-white-20th-century-1235876983/ |access-date=8 April 2024 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fu |first=Eddie |date=2024-06-26 |title=Jeremy Allen White Plans to Do His Own Singing in Bruce Springsteen Movie |url=https://consequence.net/2024/06/jeremy-allen-white-bruce-springsteen-movie-singing/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR00qfai9c3CjH5JOEFC3XNJ2jLEX2gVWAPfak79eZJv13ftJmZVuosBYu0_aem_PcosRop1qO7rMmmheAkeXg |website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]] |language=en-US}}</ref> That year, Springsteen contributed guitar to a re-release of [[Mark Knopfler]]'s "[[Going Home: Theme of the Local Hero]]" in aid of the [[Teenage Cancer Trust]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/mark-knopfler-recruits-bruce-springsteen-brian-may-ronnie-wood-teenage-cancer-trust-single-3584338 | title=Mark Knopfler recruits Bruce Springsteen, Brian May, Ronnie Wood and more for Teenage Cancer Trust single | work=NME | first=Liberty | last=Dunworth | date=February 8, 2024 | access-date=March 4, 2024 | archive-date=March 4, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240304174544/https://www.nme.com/news/music/mark-knopfler-recruits-bruce-springsteen-brian-may-ronnie-wood-teenage-cancer-trust-single-3584338 | url-status=live}}</ref> His eighth compilation album, ''[[Best of Bruce Springsteen]]'', was released on April 19.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2024/03/bruce-springsteen-greatest-hits-album/|title=Bruce Springsteen Announces New Greatest Hits Album|last=Harrison|first=Scoop|website=[[Consequence (publication)|Consequence]]|date=March 1, 2024|access-date=March 2, 2024}}</ref> In October, [[Disney+]] and [[Hulu]] released a documentary about Springsteen's 2023–2024 tour, ''Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/bruce-springsteen-documentary-world-tour-disney-plus-hulu-1236003198/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1Qjb4qmJV_Bid0GJVfYA-ENdpTUhWFuggYrxOcvYYJJwuK3qJ0w9xBZMc_aem_AavoUEGyugBnRD7ZOrlzg8SsjI9YE7vlkqbC1pxDf-__TmazYI4FTeNxqkt2iZ-QdLWyODaIA1DN6Nq__4jCU9-w|title=Bruce Springsteen Documentary About E Street Band World Tour Set at Disney+ and Hulu|last=DeMartin|first=Rob|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=May 17, 2024}}</ref> The documentary made its debut at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] in September 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/07/22/bruce-springsteen-toronto-film-festival-road-diary-disney-hulu/74500318007/|title=Bruce Springsteen to appear at Toronto film festival for upcoming 'Road Diary' doc|last=Jordan|first=Chris|website=app.com|date=July 22, 2024|access-date=July 22, 2024}}</ref> In July 2024, ''[[Forbes]]'' reported that Springsteen had a net worth of more than $1.1 billion, thanks to his tours and the sale of his back catalogue in 2021,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Voytko-Best |first=Lisette |date=July 19, 2024 |title=Bruce Springsteen is now a billionaire |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2024/07/19/bruce-springsteen-is-now-a-billionaire/ |access-date=2024-07-20 |website=[[Forbes]] |language=en}}</ref> making him one of the [[List of celebrities by net worth|richest celebrities]] and [[List of music artists by net worth|musicians]]. During his August 23, 2024, show in [[Philadelphia]], Springsteen denounced rumors of a farewell tour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Chris |date=August 24, 2024 |title=Bruce Springsteen, during second night in Philly, talks about last year's illness |url=https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/music/2024/08/24/bruce-springsteen-e-street-band-philadelphia-night-two/74922095007/ |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=app.com |language=en}}</ref>

In April 2025, Springsteen announced ''Tracks II: The Lost Albums'', to be released on June 27. The collection features seven full-length albums of unreleased material dating from 1983 to 2018, totaling 83 songs, 74 of which were previously unreleased. A twenty-song companion album, ''Lost and Found: Selections from The Lost Albums'', will also be released on June 27.<ref>{{cite web |last=Monroe |first=Jazz |title=Bruce Springsteen's Mythic Lost Albums Compiled in New Box Set: Listen to "Rain in the River" |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/bruce-springsteens-mythic-lost-albums-compiled-in-new-box-set-listen-to-rain-in-the-river/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=April 3, 2025 |date=April 3, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Bruce Springsteen's 'Tracks II: The Lost Albums' — Featuring 7 Never-Heard, Full-length Records |url=https://brucespringsteen.net/news/2025/bruce-springsteens-tracks-ii-the-lost-albums-featuring-7-never-heard-full-length-records/ |website=brucespringsteen.net |access-date=April 3, 2025 |date=April 3, 2025}}</ref>