Last night, music history met its modern torchbearers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as Bono and The Edge proudly accepted the 2025 Woody Guthrie Prize on behalf of U2 during an emotional and celebratory ceremony at the legendary Cain’s Ballroom.
The annual honor, awarded by the Woody Guthrie Center, recognizes artists who embody the spirit and social consciousness of the American folk icon, those who use their music to champion truth, justice, and humanity. This year’s recipients, U2, were recognized for more than four decades of music rooted in activism, empathy, and an unwavering pursuit of peace.
“Music That Speaks Truth To Power”
The evening featured heartfelt performances, candid reflections, and a deep sense of kinship between Guthrie’s enduring message and U2’s own mission. Accepting the award, Bono spoke with humility and humor about Guthrie’s influence on the band’s work.
“Woody Guthrie sang the songs that told America about itself, the good, the bad, and the beautiful,” Bono said. “U2 has always tried to do the same in our own way. To be recognized in his name, in his hometown, no less, is a real honor.”
The Edge echoed the sentiment, highlighting the connection between folk tradition and U2’s socially conscious anthems.
“Woody understood that music is a form of service,” he said. “That’s something we’ve carried with us from Dublin to wherever the journey takes us.”
A Night Of Storytelling And Song
The intimate crowd at Cain’s Ballroom — a venue steeped in musical history — was treated to acoustic performances and storytelling moments that reflected U2’s deep roots in both rock and folk traditions. The duo delivered stripped-down renditions of “One”, “Walk On”, and a haunting cover of Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”, earning standing ovations throughout the evening.
Fans and attendees described the night as “profoundly moving,” with one local music historian noting, “It felt like Woody’s spirit was right there in the room, and he would’ve loved what they had to say.”
Honoring Activism Through Art
Since 2014, the Woody Guthrie Prize has celebrated artists and activists whose work upholds Guthrie’s legacy of using art to challenge injustice and unite communities. Past honorees include Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, John Mellencamp, and Mavis Staples, making U2 the first non-American group to receive the distinction.
The Woody Guthrie Center, located in Tulsa’s vibrant arts district, houses Guthrie’s archives and serves as a cultural hub dedicated to the preservation of socially conscious songwriting.
“A Bridge Across Generations”
The ceremony underscored the lasting power of music to inspire change. As the audience joined Bono and The Edge in a communal singalong of “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For,” it became clear that U2’s inclusion among Guthrie’s spiritual descendants was well-earned.
“Woody’s songs weren’t about nostalgia, they were about possibility,” Bono reflected near the end of the night. “We hope this award reminds us all that music can still be a bridge across generations, across borders, across everything that divides us.”
A Perfect Tulsa Tribute
In a fitting full-circle moment, the night closed with Bono raising Guthrie’s signature lyric, “This machine kills fascists”, as a toast to the enduring power of art that speaks truth to power.
For fans and music lovers alike, the evening at Cain’s Ballroom wasn’t just an awards ceremony, it was a reminder that, decades after Woody Guthrie’s voice first echoed across America, his message lives on in bands like U2, still singing for the people, the planet, and the promise of something better.
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