The American Music Honors, an annual event hosted by the Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center at Monmouth University in New Jersey, recognized Smokey Robinson, John Fogerty, Emmylou Harris, Tom Morello, and Joe Ely at this year’s ceremony. All honorees except Ely were present to receive their awards, while also performing their classic songs with the help of artists like Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, Bruce Springsteen, and surprise guests Jackson Browne, Nils Lofgren, Nora Guthrie, and Darlene Love. The intimate, star-studded ceremony was attended by only 714 lucky fans, with Springsteen himself delivering the induction speeches for Ely and Fogerty.
The event featured a series of unique collaborations, including Springsteen performing classic Creedence Clearwater Revival hits with Fogerty, with the Boss also covering a few of Ely’s songs, and joining with Robinson on “Going to a Go-Go,” playing with Browne on “Take It Easy,” and pairing with Morello for “The Ghost of Tom Joad” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.” Harris and Patty Scialfa gave an induction speech for Harris, and they dueted on a version of “Red Dirt Girl.” The evening’s finale featured all performers on stage with Love and Guthrie for a rendition of Woodie Guthrie‘s anthem, “This Land Is Your Land.” (Rolling Stone)
