Bruce Springsteen has become a grandfather for the first time!
The singer-songwriter has three wonderful children who have changed his life.
Springsteen’s youngest son did not follow in his father’s footsteps as he has chosen a different path for himself that involves saving life and possibly risking his own.
Bruce Springsteen is a singer-songwriter who gained international fame in 1975 when he released his third record, “Born to Run.” The singer grew up in Freehold, New Jersey. His father was Doug Springsteen, a bus driver who was mostly unemployed.
Springsteen disclosed that his father had lots of rage in him and would terrify his family. He added that his dad would snarl at him and noted that his father loved him, but he just couldn’t stand him as a son.
Despite his difficult childhood, which he said left him broken, Springsteen grew up to become a legendary singer and songwriter. He has released 20 studio albums so far.
In the 80s, the singer became one of America’s most successful musical exports as his record “Born in the U.S.A, which was released in 1984, sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
On May 13, 1985, when the singer was at the peak of his career, he married actress and model Julianne Phillips, whom he described in his 2016 autobiography as “24, tall, blonde, educated, talented, a beautiful, and charming woman.”
He later admitted that he suffered severe panic attacks after he got married because he was afraid of commitment. “I was scared, but I did not want to scare the wits out of my young bride,” he said.
The two divorced four years later, and Phillips demanded a no-talk divorce as she noted that she wanted to focus on her career.
The singer also admitted in his autobiography that he had an affair with Patti Scialfa, a bandmate who he later married.
The two were photographed on a balcony in Rome, and Springsteen was pictured in his underpants. The singer wrote in his autobiography that he opened up to his wife about the affair before they divorced:
“I came clean to Julie as soon as I knew how serious Patti and I were, but there was no decent or graceful way out of it.”
Even before his affair, Springsteen had convinced himself that Phillips was only with him because he was famous. He revealed that the idea came to him one evening when the pair were out eating dinner at a prestigious Los Angeles eatery:
“There, as we politely chatted by candlelight, hand in hand, a part of me tried to convince myself she was simply using me to further her career or to get…something.”
However, he admitted that this was only a lie he had told himself, noting that Phillips loved him and had no single exploitative or malicious agenda in her.
Despite Springsteen’s affair, some people blamed their divorce on Phillips’ pursuit of her own career. These people claimed that the singer wanted to start a family, but the actress was not ready to have kids.
However, close friends of the actress said she was not unwilling to have kids and was actually trying for children. These friends added that Springsteen was also not against the actress pursuing her career.
The couple faced several challenges in their marriage, including an affair, self-doubt, and starting a family, and they ended up parting ways.
Rumors started circulating that all was not well in Springsteen’s and Phillips’ marriage when the duo stopped going out together. The singer’s friends also revealed that the actor was loose and contemplating divorce.
The couple spent their third anniversary apart, and ten days after the anniversary, Springsteen did not go home after he completed his U.S. tour. The singer stayed in a hotel with his bandmates instead of going to their home in New Jersey or Manhattan.
Fans also noticed the singer was no longer wearing his wedding ring. He also had close and steamy dances with Scialfa. The two were later spotted grabbing a meal in Manhattan at 2:30 a.m.
Rumors intensified about Scialfa and Springsteen’s possible relationship when they worked out together at the Manhattan Plaza gym. The pair could be seen laughing and joking. A gym member said, “They were definitely a couple.
The singer and Scialfa were also seen taking a photo on the famed Spanish Steps, where Springsteen had his arms on her shoulders. Phillips’s close friends revealed that Springsteen’s behavior during this time hurt the actress badly:
“Julianne’s just had her whole life blown apart. With Bruce behaving like this, she feels she’s been living a fantasy for three years.”
Friends of Springsteen were also against his actions as they noted that the singer was not handling the pressure of being a star well. Friends scolded Springsteen for leaving the country amidst the chaos he had caused:
“He talks about scruples and commitment, but the sad thing is, he’s having an affair. People think it’s okay because he’s such a big star. But this is his wife he’s hurting…Maybe now people will see that the Boss is human.”
However, some people were quick to admit that Springsteen and Phillips were never a good fit. “He and Julianne had nothing in common. Patti and Bruce, on the other hand, have everything in common… Patti and Bruce were meant for each other,” a friend said.
The “Glory Days” singer was remorseful for his actions towards Phillips years later when he wrote his autobiography. He admitted that he abysmally handled the breakup between him and his ex-wife, which caused pain and hurt to someone he loved:
“I made a tough thing more heartbreaking than necessary…I placed her in a terribly difficult position for a young girl, and I failed her as a husband and a partner.”
Springsteen added that he hurt Phillips at a young age when she was just starting out in her career at age 35. He noted that he was also emotionally stunted and secretly unavailable as much as he seemed accomplished, mature, and in control.
The affair between Springsteen and Scialfa was a dealbreaker as Phillips filed for a divorce in 1988 when details came to light. Their divorce was finalized in 1989.
The singer’s marriage ended, but he noted that he was grateful for the union because it took marrying the Phillips for him to realize that the woman he truly loved shared a stage with him every night.
He added that he fell in love with Scialfa, who was a formidable partner who didn’t live to make him safe, “Patti had a part that carried a charged sexuality; she could seduce, and she could stir you to jealousy.”
In 1991, Springsteen and Scialfa tied the knot in the garden of their shared Beverly Hills mansion, which was decorated with pink and white roses. Their wedding ceremony included a 7 p.m. cocktail hour, 8 p.m. nuptials by candlelight, and the cutting of a four-tiered wedding cake.
Scialfa looked stunning in a floor-length white gown decorated with pearl teardrops, while Springsteen wore a black tuxedo. Guests danced to “Twist and Shout” and “Do You Love Me?”
The firefighter made his parents proud and happy again when he made them grandparents for the very first time.
When they married, the two already had one child, their first son Evan James who was born on July 25, 1990. On the year the couple got married, they welcomed their daughter Jessica Rae on December 30. Their youngest son is called Sam Ryan, was born on January 5, 1994.
Springsteen and Scialfa are hopelessly romantic. They show each other affection even in front of their embarrassed kids. Scialfa always tells her kids, “Hey, you are going to be happy one day when you look back and know your parents really loved each other.”
The singer and his family live in a 19th-century farmhouse in New Jersey. The couple is loved in their hometown, where people describe them as down-to-earth and individuals who act just like everyone else.
Scialfa, who is a singer like her husband, sometimes joins Springsteen at work. The two were featured in the documentary “Western Stars,” released in 2019. Springsteen intimacy with his wife is apparent as he said they have been together for 30 years and share a lot:
“You know, Patti’s been at the center of my life for the entire second half of my life … and an enormous amount of guidance and inspiration, and you know, I can’t overstate it. You know, it’s I’ve been lucky.”
Scialfa’s high school teacher Curtis K Smith also revealed that she had been in love with Springsteen for a long time. Smith added that it wasn’t surprising that the two finally got together and married.
Springsteen has also opened up about fatherhood. He noted that being a father was a stark contrast to being a celebrity. He stated that being a dad showed him there was more to life than work:
“I realized the song is always going to be there…but the kids, they’re there, and then they’re gone. And when they’re gone, they’re gone.”
He added that fatherhood changed how he looked at himself and his job, enabling him to create a fulfilling identity away from being a singer. One of the singer’s friends also said Springsteen was “an incredible father” who had changed and now spent lots of time with his family.
Springsteen and Scialfa’s kids are all grown up now. James, 32, graduated from Boston College in 2012. Rae, 31, is a professional equestrian whose love for horses started at a young age when she grew up on the family’s 300-acre farm in Colts Neck Township, New Jersey.
Rae graduated from Duke University in 2014. She went ahead to participate in the Olympics in 2021 as a professional equestrian and took home a silver medal from her jumping competition. She attributed her success to her parents:
“I’ve been so grateful that my parents have supported me throughout my career. They’ve been on this journey for me. It’s been like a huge dream for them as well. So, I’m just really happy that I can make them proud.”
The couple’s youngest child Ryan is 29. He has also charted his own career path, and his parents are proud of his work and the career he has built.
Ryan is a Jersey City firefighter. He did not follow in his parent’s footsteps into showbiz, but his father had already made peace with his son’s career.
According to his mother, who broke the news on Instagram, the young man had followed his dreams. “Stay safe…Love your brave heart,” Scialfa commended him.
Supermodel Christy Turlington also congratulated Ryan, “…We are lucky to have you out there serving the community.”
The firefighter had previously wanted to become an EMT in New York City but shelved this dream. In September 2015, he took an exam to become a New York City EMT and scored 75. He was positioned 497 out of 1395 on the waiting list.
Ryan’s number quickly rose on the waiting list, and he could have become an EMT in New York City, earning $32,000 as per the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Instead, Ryan decided to become a firefighter in New Jersey with a salary of about $4300.
Ryan was sworn in as a firefighter on January 14, 2020. His proud mother and father were present on that day in the City Hall. “It’s my son’s day, and we’re very proud. We’re very excited for him,” Springsteen told the media.
The firefighter made his parents proud and happy again when he made them grandparents for the very first time. Ryan has a daughter named Lily Harper Springsteen.
Springsteen and Scialfa shared the news on Instagram on July 16, 2022. The couple were pictured together standing in front of a baby stroller that held their first grandchild.
Scialfa also shared a close-up picture of their grandchild, who was absolutely gorgeous and was dressed in gray sweatpants, a white shirt, a pink hat, and two pink hand gloves.
Springsteen, whose net worth is $345 million, is still active in his career as a singer-songwriter and has been on an international tour with performances for the better part of 2023 with his rock band E Street Band.