Bruce Springsteen’s “Streets of Minneapolis” may be a real contender for a Best Rock Song Grammy nomination — a field the rocker knows very well. UNITED STATES – OCTOBER 11: REDBANK Photo of Bruce SPRINGSTEEN, Bruce Springsteen performing on stage – Born to Run Tour, 27 (Photo by Fin Costello/Redferns)
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Throughout both of Donald Trump’s terms in office, many well-known figures in the entertainment industry have spoken out against him. That includes Bruce Springsteen, one of the politician’s most vocal opponents in the rock world.
Springsteen is, of course, a musical legend and Grammy champion, having won 20 awards from more than 50 nominations. He does not appear at the ceremony as often as he used to, though, and it has been more than a decade since he won any prize. While Springsteen continues to record and release new music, much of it has been passed over by the Recording Academy in favor of newer, younger acts. That could change this year.
Springsteen returned in January with “Streets of Minneapolis,” his first new single in years. The protest song is meant to oppose U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE, and shine a light on the organization’s killings of several people, including American citizens.
“Streets of Minneapolis” was only a minor commercial hit in America, but its power and the issues it taps into may be enough to bring Springsteen back to several Grammy categories he has not visited in years.
Bruce Springsteen Could Return to Best Rock Song
“Streets of Minneapolis” seems like a perfect fit for a handful of rock fields at the Grammys. Perhaps its strongest shot at a nomination is in the Best Rock Song vertical, which is presented solely to songwriters.
More than perhaps any of his other accomplishments, Springsteen is known as a great songwriter. Grammy voters have been willing to honor politically relevant compositions in the past, and they may choose to do so again for the Boss.
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 19: (FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Musician Dave Grohl, founding member of Nirvana and The Foo Fighters, performs onstage as a special guest with the Los Angeles Philharmonic during weekend 2, day 2 of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 19, 2025 in Indio, California. (Photo by Scott Dudelson/Getty Images for Coachella)
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Springsteen has won Best Rock Song four times. He is tied with Dave Grohl and Pat Smear as the winningest songwriter in the history of the category. The Boss also claims a milestone 10 nominations in the field, and he is the first artist to reach that figure.
Bruce Springsteen Hasn’t Competed in More Than a Decade
While Springsteen may claim the most wins in Best Rock Song, he has not been nominated in the category in more than a decade. The last time he appeared in the field was back in 2013 with “We Take Care of Our Own,” one of his four champions.
Springsteen also won the prize with “Streets of Philadelphia,” from the movie Philadelphia – which happens to nearly share a title with “Streets of Minneapolis.” He also claimed the honor with “The Rising” and “Radio Nowhere” as well.
Bruce Springsteen May Earn a Best Rock Performance Nod
“Streets of Minneapolis” could also be nominated for Best Rock Performance, which honors the artist performing a recording rather than specifically recognizing its songwriters. The current award is essentially a combination of several older Grammy categories, including fields that once separated solo artists and groups and honored instrumental performances independently.
Springsteen has only been nominated once since the Best Rock Performance category took its current form. “We Take Care of Our Own” competed at the 2013 ceremony, but lost to “Lonely Boy” by The Black Keys. “Streets of Minneapolis” could bring him back to the field for the first time in more than a decade.
Bruce Springsteen Could Also Return to Song of the Year
While it seems like more of a long shot, “Streets of Minneapolis” could also wind up among the lucky nominees for Song of the Year. Like Best Rock Song, the prize is handed to songwriters, but it is not specific to any one style of music – which makes it even more competitive.
“Streets of Minneapolis” was not a massive commercial success, which may hurt its chances in such a busy arena, but Grammy voters may choose to recognize Springsteen’s anti-Trump and anti-violence message. A nomination would give Springsteen his fourth career appearance in the Song of the Year tier, and his first in more than 20 years.
The rocker won on his first visit to the category with “Streets of Philadelphia” in 1995. He returned in 2003 with “The Rising” and then again three years later with “Devils & Dust,” though neither of those compositions were named the champion.
Record of the Year Seems Like a Longer Shot
There are other categories where “Streets of Minneapolis” will likely be submitted, and though it is eligible, the track likely faces a very tough battle, and nods are harder to predict.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – MAY 14: Bruce Springsteen performs during the first night of his ‘The Land of Hopes and Dreams’ tour at Co-op Live on May 14, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Shirlaine Forrest/Getty Images)
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Record of the Year is one possibility, but that seems like a true long shot. The honor frequently includes some of the biggest commercial hits of the eligibility period, and “Streets of Minneapolis” did not perform like one of Springsteen’s most successful singles. The track did reach No. 1 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart, proving that fans were willing to purchase the protest tune… but it missed the Billboard Hot 100 entirely.
Springsteen’s history with Grammy voters and his general likeability, the political weight and the message of “Streets of Minneapolis” and his extraordinary track record as a songwriter could be enough to bring the rock legend back to music’s biggest night after years largely away from the competition.
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