Bruce Springsteen To Receive Woody Guthrie Prize

ASBURY PARK—Bruce Springsteen has been named the 2021 recipient of the Woody Guthrie Prize and will be awarded the prize at a virtual event on May 13.

“As an observer of the human condition and a reporter about the plight of common people, Bruce Springsteen is a true child of Woody Guthrie,” said Woody Guthrie Center Director Deana McCloud in a press release.

“He continues Woody’s work by writing about our struggles in this land of hope and dreams and provided one of our favorite performances of “This Land is Your Land” with Pete Seeger at the first Obama inauguration. The Woody Guthrie Center is proud to present Bruce with this well-deserved recognition for his lifetime of speaking for the disenfranchised and inspiring generations to find the power of their own voices.”

The Woody Guthrie Prize, named after the famed folk singer, is awarded by the Woody Guthrie Center to an artist who continues the legacy of Guthrie through their work. Past winners include Chuck D of Public Enemy, John Mellencamp, Kris Kristofferson, Mavis Staples, and Pete Seeger.

“I’m honored to receive the 2021 Woody Guthrie Prize,” Springsteen said in a press release. “Woody wrote some of the greatest songs about America’s struggle to live up its ideals in convincing fashion. He is one of my most important influences and inspirations.”