Bruce Springsteen is mourning the loss of his mother, Adele, who passed away at the age of 98. The iconic singer shared the news on Instagram, accompanied by a touching video of his mother dancing to swing music. Adele had been battling Alzheimer’s disease for more than a decade.
In the Instagram post, Springsteen shared lyrics from his 1998 song “The Wish,” which was written for his mother. The song narrates how Adele, despite facing financial constraints, bought her son a guitar, a poignant gesture that fueled Springsteen’s musical journey.
Adele was a regular presence at her son’s concerts, where Springsteen would often invite her onstage to dance with him. In a 2021 Springsteen on Broadway performance, he spoke about her love for dancing, particularly to the swing and big band music of the ’40s. He revealed that despite her battle with Alzheimer’s, Adele’s need to dance persisted, and whenever she saw him, there was always a smile and a kiss.
He shared the profound impact of music on his mother, stating, “This is an essential part of mom’s spirit, it’s who she is. It’s beyond language and it’s more powerful than memory. It’s the embodiment. This is what she has put her trust in and lived her life by and which, despite all she has suffered, she carries on with to this moment, as if life’s beauty never deserted her. I love her.”
Born on May 4, 1925, to Italian immigrants in Brooklyn, Adele Zerilli married Douglas Springsteen in 1948, and the couple eventually settled in Freehold, New Jersey, where they raised Bruce and his siblings. Adele worked as a legal secretary for 47 years. In a 1984 interview, she expressed pride in all her children, including Bruce, whose success had made headlines. Reflecting on her son’s achievements, she said, “All our children are nice children. We’re proud of all of them.”
Adele’s passing marks the end of a remarkable life that left an indelible impact on her family and the music world, particularly through her enduring presence at her son’s performances.
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