Tuesday, March 21st, Bruce Springsteen added the 2021 National Medal of Arts to his collection of awards. This award was presented to him by President Biden, who referred to Springsteen as “the Boss.” This award is the nation’s highest award for advancing the arts in the United States. The award marks Springsteen’s third from the White House. He previously earned a Presidential Medal of Freedom from Barack Obama along with a prestigious Kennedy Center Honor.
This makes Springsteen one of the most decorated artists in history, also having 20 Grammys, an Oscar, and a Tony. Bruce Springsteen’s music celebrates our triumphs, heals our wounds, and gives us hope, capturing the unyielding spirit of what it means to be American, and is deserving of this award. Springsteen and the E Street Band just extended their North American tour with a new run of dates set for this summer and fall.
Biden also awarded the 2021 National Humanities Medals to a group including authors Amy Tan, Colson Whitehead, and Ann Patchett. The medal honors individuals or groups for work that deepens their understanding of the humanities. These 2021 awards are being given out now due to delays caused by the Covid pandemic. Other recipients of the 2021 National Medal of Arts include Judith Francisca Baca, Fred Eychaner, Jose Feliciano, Mindy Kaling, Vera Wang, and The International Association of Blacks in Dance. Biden had good things to say about all the recipients- “A mom, a cancer survivor, a pioneer for women in comedy: She is an American original,” Biden said of Louis-Dreyfus. Trying to be funny when presenting to Vera Wang, he stated, “Every time I open the closet, I see [you.]” “It’s all those labels – Vera Wang,” Biden said he clarified to his spouse. “I could’ve said it a little better than ‘I open the closet and see you all the time.’” Overall, it was a lovely ceremony that honored a list of accomplished people.
