Bruce Springsteen ended up missing the inaugural American Music Honors hosted by his archive in New Jersey after testing positive for Covid-19 last week.
The singer-songwriter, 73, had been due to attend the first awards event hosted by the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music on Saturday (April 15).
The event - held at Monmouth University, where Bruce's archive and music centre is based - honoured performers including Darlene Love, 81, and Steven Van Zandt, 72.
Bruce and his wife Patti Scialfa, 69, had been due to present awards in person at the Pollak Theatre within the university but they were both absent.
According to Variety, it was announced that they had both been diagnosed with Covid-19. Bruce is said to have been diagnosed shortly after his concert in Newark on Friday night (April 14).
Bob Santelli, executive director of The Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music, confirmed the couple's absence to the audience at the venue.
He said: "It broke our hearts around 6 a.m. this morning when I got a call that two of the most important people who were supposed to be here, [Bruce and Patti], unfortunately came down with COVID."
The announcement is said to have been met with silence and host Jon Stewart teased: "They're alive. Don't overreact. You can still see them in concert."
Bruce is however said to have recorded video messages to present awards to fellow singers Darlene and Steven, who were among the honorees at the ceremony on Saturday.
The event also saw Bruce honoured himself by Phil Murphy, the governor of New Jersey. He announced that the singer's birthday, September 23, will now officially be known as Bruce Springsteen Day in his home state.
Sharing the news in a tweet over the weekend, he said: "[Bruce] is one of the most iconic and influential musicians – and New Jerseyans – of all time, period.
"And so, I am both honored and proud to announce @springsteen's birthday, Sept. 23, will officially be known as Bruce Springsteen Day in the Garden State."
Alongside being an archive related to the singer's life and career, the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music creates exhibits and other events.
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