Bruce Springsteen

AGE 53

WHY HIM The Boss reestablished his commercial cred this year with ''The Rising,'' his fastest-selling album ever. He also demonstrated a unique hold on the hearts of the media elite, scoring worshipful coverage from the likes of TIME, ''Nightline,'' and the ''Today'' show (which devoted an entire program to covering him live from Asbury Park, something the show's producers said they'd do for nobody else). Even junior-skewing MTV paid homage. And thanks to an ongoing tour with the E Street Band, an October ''Saturday Night Live'' appearance, and likely multiple Grammy nods, ''The Rising'' will get a series of boosts that may keep it alive on the charts.

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