Paul McCartney teases Bruce Springsteen as he presents top songwriting honor at Ivor Novello Awards

"Never worked a day in his life," jokes McCartney, as he honors Springsteen with the prestigious award in London.

Legendary musician Paul McCartney presented his longtime friend Bruce Springsteen with a prestigious songwriting accolade at the 2024 Ivor Novello Awards in London.

The ceremony, held on Thursday, May 23 at the Grosvenor House Hotel, was filled with light-hearted moments as McCartney took the opportunity to roast Springsteen before handing over the award.

During his introduction, McCartney quipped about Springsteen’s persona, saying, "He's known as being the American working man, but he admits he’s never worked a day in his life. It's true," as captured in a video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter).

The Beatles icon continued his playful banter, suggesting other musicians who might also be fitting for the award.

Except maybe Bob Dylan... Or Paul Simon, or Billy Joel, or Beyoncé, or Taylor Swift. The list goes on," McCartney joked, engaging the audience in the fun.

Springsteen, affectionately referred to by the crowd as "Bruce," graciously accepted the award, which marks him as the first international songwriter inducted into the Academy's Fellowship in its 80-year history.

This honor is the highest the Ivors Academy bestows and has previously been awarded to influential artists such as Adele, Sting, Amy Winehouse, John Lennon, Kate Bush, and McCartney himself.

Reflecting on his recent performance in Sunderland, England, Springsteen shared his resilience against the harsh weather conditions.

"I'm going to sound really weird up here because I sang in the rain all night last night," he said.

Springsteen also reminisced about his first visit to London in 1975, humorously recalling his initial impressions and the surprising absence of familiar American comforts like cheeseburgers. "The airplane food was not so great, and my first thought when we landed at Heathrow was, 'Where's all the cheeseburgers?' The cheeseburgers had either been hidden or replaced by something called fish and chips. It was a little disconcerting," he joked.

The event not only celebrated Springsteen's monumental contribution to music but also highlighted the enduring friendship and mutual respect between two of the world's most iconic musicians.

Springsteen and McCartney have shared the stage several times, including a memorable performance at the Glastonbury Festival in 2022.