Bruce Springsteen has made history as the first international artist to receive the Ivor Novello Awards’ top honor, presented to him by his friend Sir Paul McCartney during a ceremony in London.
Springsteen received a standing ovation and performed an acoustic version of “Thunder Road” after being inducted into the Fellowship of the Ivors Academy.
He joins the ranks of past recipients like Sir Elton John, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Kate Bush, Annie Lennox, and McCartney himself, who was the inaugural honoree 20 years ago.Springsteen and McCartney share a close friendship, highlighted by their joint performance at Glastonbury in 2022.
On stage, McCartney humorously referenced Springsteen’s famously long concerts and praised him as the most deserving recipient, aside from “Bob Dylan… Beyonce, Taylor Swift.”
In his acceptance speech, Springsteen reflected on his deep connection with the UK and its fans, recalling his first show in Hammersmith 50 years ago.
He expressed gratitude for the support and described the privilege of performing for such dedicated audiences, regardless of age. He acknowledged the UK’s influence on his music and thanked fans for embracing his work.
At 74, Springsteen has sold over 140 million records globally and won numerous awards, including 20 Grammys, an Oscar, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Known for iconic songs like “Born To Run,” “Thunder Road,” “Hungry Heart,” “Dancing In The Dark,” and “Born In The USA,” he has released 21 studio albums, from “Greetings From Asbury Park, NJ” in 1973 to “Only The Strong Survive” in 2022.
Other artists honored at the Ivors included Raye, Lana Del Rey, Skepta, and KT Tunstall, celebrating their contributions to songwriting.
