In a special half-hour broadcast, PBS News’ Geoff Bennett sits down with Bruce Springsteen for a rare and deeply personal conversation marking the recent opening of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music at Monmouth University.

The program premieres at 9 p.m. EDT on Friday, July 3. Watch it live in our video player above.

The conversation explores Springsteen’s life, career, and artistic legacy — from the stories and characters that shaped his songwriting to his place within the broader tradition of American music.

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Reflecting on more than five decades of work, Springsteen considers the artists who influenced him, the themes that continue to drive his creativity, and what he hopes future generations will take from the music he has created.

The special comes as the United States marks its 250th anniversary, reflecting on the role music plays in telling the American story.

The program also features interviews with two of the most influential figures in preserving and interpreting America’s musical heritage: Bob Santelli, former executive director of the Grammy Museum and founding executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Center for American Music, and longtime Springsteen manager and producer John Landau.

Together, they offer insight into Springsteen’s enduring cultural impact, the creation of the new center and the ways his work connects to the larger story of American music.