Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi to Headline Concerts Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday

Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi will be headlining Music America: The Songs that Shaped Us, a two-night concert event at the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University to celebrate America’s 250th birthday. The event will take place on June 4 and 5, 2026, at the OceanFirst Bank Center. This will be just before the grand opening of the new Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music on June 7. The concerts are a significant part of the national celebrations for America’s semiquincentennial.

In addition to Springsteen and Bon Jovi, the lineup includes other renowned artists such as Jackson Browne, Mavis Staples, Kenny Chesney, Dion, Darlene Love, and more. Various genres, including blues, bluegrass, rock, hip-hop, folk, jazz, country, and gospel, will be celebrated during the concerts. Each artist will perform landmark songs from American music history, with narrations providing context for the performances.

The event is organized by the Springsteen Center, aiming to highlight the power of music to bring people together and showcase the rich and diverse musical heritage of America. The concerts are part of a series of events celebrating America’s 250th birthday and continue the Springsteen Center’s efforts that began in 2024 with the launch of the Music America exhibition.

According to Robert Santelli, executive director of the Springsteen Center and the concerts’ executive producer, Music America: The Songs that Shaped Us is a journey through American music history. By bringing together iconic performers on one stage, the event aims to honor the country’s musical past while inspiring future generations.

The artists confirmed to perform include Rosanne Cash, Gary Clark Jr., Dropkick Murphys, Shemekia Copeland, Valerie June, and many others. The Disciples of Soul will serve as the house band for the concerts. Eileen Chapman, director of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to unite celebrated artists and create an unforgettable experience that pays tribute to the past and inspires the future.

Music America: The Songs that Shaped Us is not just a concert but a cultural celebration that highlights the significance of music in American history. The event promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, bringing together a diverse lineup of artists to showcase the country’s musical heritage and inspire future generations.