Though fans know him as The Boss, Bruce Springsteen’s kids just call him Dad. The Grammy winner shares three children with his wife and fellow E Street Band member, Patti Scialfa: Evan, 34, Jessica, 32, and Samuel, 30. Despite his many accolades, the Born to Run singer says his kids aren’t well-versed in his music catalog. “We had our kids late; I was 40 when our first son was born, and they showed a healthy disinterest in our work over all the years,” he told the New York Times in 2017. “They had their own musical heroes, their own music they were interested in.
They’d be pretty blank-faced if someone mentioned a song title of mine.” He echoed those sentiments in November 2022, saying on The Graham Norton Show, “Now they have virtually no interest in music or in that part of my life. … But as I always say, ‘They don’t need a hero, they need a father.'” Springsteen has also said that his children haven’t read his best-selling memoir, but their lack of fan worship does not hurt him. “I know that none of my kids have read the book, though I imagine someday they will perhaps. I kind of like that,” he said, adding, “I always looked upon that as that we did a good job.” Here’s everything to know about Bruce Springsteen’s kids: Evan, Jessica, and Samuel.
Springsteen and Scialfa welcomed their first child, son Evan James, on July 25, 1990. On an episode of Springsteen and Barack Obama’s podcast, Renegades: Born in the USA, the “Dancing in the Dark” singer opened up about how his life changed following Evan’s arrival. “That is a gift you get from your children and from your wife,” the father of three said. “Your acknowledgment of a new self. And the realization of your manhood. It was huge. You know, I woke up. I felt as someone, not necessarily someone different, but someone so much further down the road than I thought maybe I’d ever get.” Though Evan, who is also a musician, has been the most private of his siblings, he has stepped out for special events with the family and even joined his parents on stage.
In 2020, his famous father addressed Boston College’s class of 2024 for their First Year Academic Convocation and gave a nod to his oldest son, who graduated from the school in 2012. “It’s going to be unforgettable and the ride of your life. My son, who graduated from this very institution, told me so,” Springsteen shared on a Zoom call with the incoming freshman class. “You will spend your next four years living in a place where the life of the mind is paramount. The life of the mind is a beautiful thing.
Springsteen’s only daughter, Jessica Rae, was born on December 30, 1991. She is a professional equestrian who began riding horses at a young age on her family’s 300-acre farm in Colts Neck Township, New Jersey. “I started riding when I was really little. My mom had always wanted to ride, so when we moved to New Jersey, she started taking lessons,” Jessica told. “Our home is right across the road from one of the top junior training barns — and I went right into that when I was a teenager.” She graduated from Duke University in 2014. During her college career, she made her first bid for the Olympics, which she told was “an amazing experience.
She added, “It’s so much about timing and having the right horse at the right time, and having everything going well, so it’s definitely something that I’m working towards — and will continue working towards until I get there.” Her chance to compete came in 2021 when the equestrian was selected to join Team USA at the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were postponed until summer 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On August 7, 2021, she took home a silver medal in the team jumping competition.
The couple welcomed their youngest child, son Samuel Ryan, on January 5, 1994. On January 15, 2014, Scialfa announced on Instagram that Sam had graduated from the Monmouth County Fire Academy. He took a civil service exam in 2017 to become a firefighter in the state of New Jersey. In August 2019, his proud mom announced that he had officially become a firefighter with the Jersey City Fire Department. Sam was one of 15 sworn in by the mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey, in January 2020. “It was a long road, he was very dedicated for quite a few years, and we are just excited for him today,” Springsteen told CBS New York of his son at the time. In 2022, Sam welcomed his first child with his partner, making Springsteen and Scialfa first-time grandparents.
Throughout his decades-long career, Bruce Springsteen has had his wife, Patti Scialfa, by his side. The couple met at a local bar in the early ’80s and quickly developed a friendship. Scialfa, who is also a musician, then joined the music legend and the E Street Band on their 1984 Born in the U.S.A. Tour as a backup vocalist. While the two musicians had chemistry on stage, their relationship did not turn romantic until 1988 after the “Dancing in the Dark” singer split from his first wife, Julianne Phillips. Springsteen and Scialfa quickly fell in love and got married in 1991. They’ve since welcomed three kids and continue to perform together. So, who is Bruce Springsteen’s wife? From her relationship with the iconic musician to her solo music career, here’s everything to know about Patti Scialfa.