Bruce Springsteen has been making music for decades, but he might be smack-dab in the middle of his most successful period of his career, at least when it comes to awards. He received an honorary Tony for “Springsteen on Broadway” in 2018. Now he’s an Emmy contender for Netflix‘s filmed version of that show. And he’s a 2020 Grammy contender for his critically acclaimed new album “Western Stars.” Could he claim all those kudos within the span of two years? If so, he’d sort of have the EGOT, but not quite.
Springsteen already got halfway to EGOT a quarter of a century ago. He won the first of his 20 Grammys in 1985: Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for “Dancing in the Dark.” Less than a decade later he won the Oscar for Best Original Song for “Streets of Philadelphia” from the film “Philadelphia” (1993). No Emmys, though, despite two nominations: Best Variety Special for “Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band: Live in New York City” (2001) and Best Short Form Entertainment Program for headlining the Super Bowl halftime show (2009).
Then he visited the Great White Way with his one-man show from October 2017 to December 2018. “Springsteen on Broadway” included musical performances, as well as autobiographical reminiscences from the veteran musician. Now the Netflix version could win him the Emmy for Best Variety Special (Pre-Recorded), but he wouldn’t qualify to join the EGOT club. To officially earn that distinction, you have to win your awards competitively, so his honorary Tony doesn’t count towards that achievement.
But still, not bad for a couple of years’ work. And he could add to his already massive Grammys haul next January since he released his concept album “Western Stars” to rave reviews and a top two debut on the Billboard 200 albums chart. In the midst of all this, the rocker turns 70 in September, so landmark awards achievements aren’t a bad way to celebrate a landmark birthday.
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