Bruce Springsteen took the stage at the 2025 American Music Honors for a once-in-a-lifetime performance that brought the audience to its feet. Teaming up with fellow icons John Fogerty and Smokey Robinson, The Boss delivered a fiery medley of rock, soul, and Americana that felt like a masterclass in music history. Guitars blazed, harmonies soared, and the crowd—some in tears—swayed and sang along to every note. When the legends joined hands for a roaring finale of “People Get Ready,” the room erupted into a standing ovation. Fans and stars alike were left speechless, many saying it was one of the most emotional and powerful collaborations they’d ever witnessed on a live stage

Introduction

Bruce Springsteen opened the evening by inducting Joe Ely, sharing a touching anecdote about Ely’s Texas roots and his unforgettable early encounter with Jerry Lee Lewis, framing Ely as an authentic storyteller whose music “sparked it all” in him. Although Ely was absent due to health reasons, his pre-recorded message expressed profound gratitude for the honor and underscored the healing power of music at the heart of the Archives’ mission.

Nils Lofgren’s introduction of Tom Morello painted him as both a “visionary social justice warrior” and a master of genre-blending rock, hip-hop, and folk, celebrating Morello’s devotion to “comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable” through song. Morello’s own speech—laced with defiant humor—reminded everyone that “music is a binding force… a weapon for change,” before he and Springsteen delivered an electrifying “The Ghost of Tom Joad” together.

Patti Scialfa lauded Emmylou Harris’s lifelong passion for music and her ability to make every listener feel like a friend, highlighting her emotionally rich performance of “Red Dirt Girl” alongside the Disciples of Soul, which resonated as a poignant tribute to both artistry and humanity .

Bruce Springsteen inducted John Fogerty by celebrating his role as a founding figure of Americana, praising Creedence’s anthems for capturing the American spirit in songs like “Born on the Bayou” and “Bad Moon Rising”. Later, Fogerty’s bemused reflection on music choosing him—and his triumphant ownership of his catalog—set the stage for a rousing joint performance of “Proud Mary” and “Bad Moon Rising” with Springsteen.

Stevie Van Zandt introduced Smokey Robinson as a “songwriter hero” whose Motown classics laid the foundation for decades of music, before Robinson himself delivered a warm, understated acceptance and then performed “Tears of a Clown” with heartfelt flair.

Beyond the honorees, the Disciples of Soul kicked off the evening with a tight, high-energy set that traversed soul, rock, and folk classics, setting a celebratory tone while underscoring the Archives’ mission to honor music as “America’s sacred weapon” against cultural censorship. Surprise guest appearances by Jackson Browne and Darlene Love added spontaneous magic, especially during collaborative numbers like “Take It Easy” and “Fortunate Son,” which had the sold-out audience on its feet.

In a triumphant closing moment, nearly every performer returned to the stage for a collective rendition of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” joined by Nora Guthrie, Darlene Love, and the Disciples of Soul. The unexpected harmony of voices, from Springsteen’s gravelly tones to Harris’s pure alto, transformed the Pollak Theatre into a shared celebration of unity and hope. This finale not only honored Guthrie’s legacy but also echoed the evening’s underlying message: that music can—and must—bring people together in challenging times.

The 2025 American Music Honors underscored the power of live performance as both a cultural touchstone and a form of social commentary. In an era marked by political polarization and threats to artistic freedom, the event reaffirmed the Archives’ commitment to preserving musical legacies and fostering artistic solidarity. By spotlighting artists who have shaped American music—from Motown to folk to rock—the ceremony reminded us that songs are more than entertainment; they are vessels of shared memory, community, and resistance

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