Bruce Springsteen, Bono and others mourn Glen Hansard’s death
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Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard has died aged 56 following a motorcycle accident in Dublin, prompting tributes from musicians and actors including Bono, Bruce Springsteen, Ed Sheeran, Finneas and Rachel Zegler. The reaction reflects Hansard’s wide influence as a performer and songwriter, particularly through his work in the film Once and with Irish rock band the Frames.
Hansard achieved international recognition for co-writing and performing “Falling Slowly” with Markéta Irglová in Once; the song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and the pair later reunited as the Swell Season for an album in 2025. Bono praised his support for street performers and people experiencing homelessness, while Springsteen remembered him as a generous friend; Finneas and Billie Eilish described his songs as formative influences, and Andrew Watt highlighted his powerful voice and ability to move audiences.
- Glen Hansard died aged 56 in a Dublin motorcycle accident.
- Artists worldwide praised his music, generosity and influence.
- “Falling Slowly” remains his best-known international achievement.
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Glen Hansard was an Irish singer-songwriter best known as the frontman of the band the Frames and for his Oscar-winning film Once, and its song "Falling Slowly", which he wrote and performed with Markéta Irglová. Over a long career he became a well-regarded figure in folk and rock circles, known both for his music and for his years spent busking on the streets of Dublin. He died aged 56 on 29 July 2026 in a motorcycle accident in Dublin.
Since his death, tributes have come from a wide range of musicians and actors, reflecting how many different corners of music and film he touched. These include major figures such as Bruce Springsteen and Bono, as well as artists like Wilco's Nels Cline, producer Andrew Watt, the musician Finneas, John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats, and the actress Rachel Zegler.
The scale and variety of these tributes matter because they show Hansard's influence stretched well beyond his own commercial success, shaping and inspiring artists across generations, genres and countries.
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Originally published by Rolling Stone as “‘An Angelic Presence’: Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Wilco’s Nels Cline Pay Tribute to Glen Hansard”.