'70s Music Legend, Who Rejected Television for 17 Years, Made First-Ever Live TV Appearance
It's been 32 years since Bruce Springsteen marked a rare break from his long-standing habits after making a surprising move that delighted fans.
On May 9, 1992, the music legend made his first-ever live TV performance, but it wasn't just another appearance.
Unlike other music icons who delved into acting and took on roles in movies, the singer-songwriter nicknamed "The Boss" rarely appears on screen, whether it's for TV or the big screen.
However, he broke his long-held reluctance when he made a special appearance on Saturday Night Live.
The show, known for its iconic live performances, invited Springsteen to take the stage. At this time, this was considered a major move since the singer had been avoiding high-profile media performances.
Interestingly, this time he finally said yes after turning down SNL's invitation for 17 years.
In an episode hosted by Tom Hanks, the "Dancing in the Dark" hitmaker performed tracks from his albums Lucky Town and Human Touch, delivering live renditions of "Lucky Town," "57 Channels (And Nothin' On)" and "Living Proof."
After his successful SNL debut, Springsteen returned to the show for three more appearances.
The second was in 2002, which marked the music icon's first SNL appearance with his backing band, the E Street Band.
The episode, hosted by Matt Damon, stunned the viewers with the performance of "Lonesome Day" from his album The Rising.
Thirteen years later, Springsteen once again made an SNL comeback and performed "The Ties That Bind" and "Meet Me in the City."
At the time, some viewers misinterpreted the crowd reaction, believing that the iconic rock star was being booed during his 2015 SNL performance.
In reality, the audience was chanting "Bruuuucccceee!", a show of support that was later clarified by fans.
Apart from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, the episode, hosted by Saturday Night Live mainstays Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, also featured another music legend, who surprised audiences with a special performance from Beatles legend Paul McCartney.
He delivered his signature holiday encore of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town."
As for Springsteen's last appearance on the long-running late-night show, he performed tracks from his album Letter to You in 2020.
Introduced by host Timothée Chalamet, the 76-year-old musician performed "Ghosts" and "I'll See You in My Dreams" with the E Street Band, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, bassist Garry Tallent and violinist Soozie Tyrell were absent.
Related: '70s Icon Became the First ‘SNL' Musical Guest to Break Tradition 50 Years Ago
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This story was originally published May 9, 2026 at 9:00 PM.