(TotalConservative.com) – Bruce Springsteen became the first foreign musician to be recognized by the Ivors Academy in Great Britain, which honors songwriters who have made a cultural impact on the United Kingdom.
The honor was bestowed upon the American artist for a long career spanning over six decades and 21 studio albums. Springsteen, whose songs reflect the blue-collar, working American ethos, will join 26 other inductees, including notable artists like Kate Bush, Sting, and Paul McCartney. The Ivors Academy fellowship recognizes Springsteen’s “impact” on the “cultural landscape” of the UK.
Springsteen will be the first international musician inducted into the organization, which runs the Ivor Novello Awards for songwriters annually, celebrating the best in Britain. In a statement about the honor, the New Jersey songwriter said he was proud to be the Ivors Academy’s first international inductee. He said the award does more than recognize his music but “stands as a tribute” to his fans and friends who have supported him and his work “for the last 50 years.”
Springsteen said Great Britain made him feel “welcome every step of the way” and that he will “always remain deeply appreciative” of his fans and supporters there.
Over his extensive career, Springsteen has sold over 140 million records, won an Oscar, a Tony award, and 20 Grammys. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 1999 and, in 2016, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President Barack Obama, which is the highest award granted to civilians.
Ivors Academy chair Tom Gray said no one is “more fitting” than Springsteen to become the academy’s first international inductee. Gray added that the fellowship “marks the esteem” in which other songwriters hold Springsteen for his six decades of musicianship.
So far, 2024 has been a rollercoaster of highs and lows for the American singer and songwriter. At the end of January, his mother, Adele Zerilli Springsteen, died at the age of 98.
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