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Bruce Springsteen’s new documentary, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band, premiered October 25 on Hulu and Disney+, providing a deeply personal tribute to the singer’s late mother, Adele Springsteen, who passed away earlier this year. Directed by Thom Zimny, a longtime Springsteen collaborator, the documentary focuses primarily on the preparations for Springsteen’s recent tour, his first in six years, which kicked off in 2023 and includes upcoming European dates for 2025.
Bruce Springsteen’s tribute to his mother Adele:
However, the film’s most heartfelt moment arrives in its closing scenes, where Springsteen reflects on his mother, who passed away on January 31, 2024, at age 97. In an emotional final scene, a video shows Springsteen dancing with Adele on a porch to Glenn Miller’s In the Mood. The touching moment ends with Adele’s laughter, a hug, and a kiss on her son’s cheek, as Springsteen affectionately murmurs, “Beautiful, beautiful.” The clip concludes with a dedication card for Adele, noting her life dates: 1926–2024.
In January, Springsteen shared the same video tribute on Instagram following his mother’s passing, pairing it with lyrics from his 1988 song The Wish. The song, an ode to his mother, featured on the album Tracks and was a staple of Springsteen on Broadway, his acclaimed concert residency from 2017 to 2018, which returned briefly in 2021 and was also released as a Netflix special. On stage, he frequently spoke of his mother with profound admiration, calling her “bright” and “happy,” recalling her faith in people, and noting her unique joy and resilience.
In heartfelt words, Springsteen described Adele’s lasting influence: “She was truthfulness, consistency, good humor, professionalism, grace, kindness, optimism, civility, fairness, pride in yourself, responsibility, love, faith in your family, commitment, joy in your work, and a never-say-die thirst for living—for life.” He added that Adele’s love of dancing was a defining passion, particularly to the music of big bands from the 1940s, which she shared with her sisters.
For Springsteen fans, Road Diary delivers a glimpse behind the scenes of the band’s tour preparations but, more poignantly, shares an intimate tribute to the person Springsteen describes as his most steadfast inspiration and source of strength. The documentary provides a fitting farewell to Adele Springsteen’s joyful spirit, adding a layer of personal legacy to the larger story of Springsteen’s legendary career.