Two decades of laughter and music for veterans

Stand Up for Heroes, the annual benefit for injured veterans and their families, will celebrate its 20th anniversary this fall with a performance by Bruce Springsteen and comedy sets from Hasan Minhaj and Jon Stewart. The event is scheduled for Nov. 9 at David Geffen Hall at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.

Organizers also announced that The Resilient, Alex Warren, and Josh Johnson of "The Daily Show" will join the lineup, which includes a tribute to the people behind two decades of onstage stories. Tickets go on sale now, and the event is presented by the New York Comedy Festival and the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which have co-produced the show since its inception.

The fundraiser has raised $117 million to date for veterans, military families, and caregivers. Bob Woodruff, the ABC News correspondent whose 2006 injury in Iraq inspired the event, said in a statement, "When we started this way back in 2007 we thought it would just be a one-time concert. But it's become one of the most meaningful nights of the year."

A personal origin story

Woodruff was nearly killed during a 2006 attack while embedded with U.S. troops in Iraq, an experience that led him and his family to create Stand Up for Heroes the following year. The first event took place at New York's Town Hall in 2007, featuring Springsteen, who has been a near-constant presence since. In 2025, Springsteen took a rare year off before this return appearance, according to entertainment coverage.

In a statement, Woodruff reflected on the event's evolution: "Twenty years ago we put together Stand Up for Heroes with a simple idea: bring people together with laughter and music in honor of those who have sacrificed so much for our country. ... Those who come to the show will ensure that men and women serving today will not be left behind tomorrow."

Performance details and history

Springsteen typically plays three or four acoustic songs at the event, as Rolling Stone noted. His most recent appearance in 2024, he performed "The Power of Prayer," "Land of Hope and Dreams," "Dancing in the Dark," and "Long Walk Home." He also tells jokes between numbers, once joking about a librarian replying "Shh. They're behind you" to a question about books on paranoia.

The event has previously featured performers including Roger Waters, John Mellencamp, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Norah Jones, and Sheryl Crow, along with comedians such as Jerry Seinfeld, John Oliver, Ricky Gervais, Jim Gaffigan, Louis C.K., Seth Meyers, and Conan O'Brien, according to Rolling Stone. The Associated Press's list includes Stephen Colbert, John Mayer, John Mulaney, Jeff Ross, Ray Romano, and Seinfeld among past attendees.

Organizers reflect on the milestone

The Hollywood Reporter quoted Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of the New York Comedy Festival, describing the event as a night that "brought together the extraordinary worlds of comedy, music and the military community for one unforgettable night." Anne Marie Dougherty, CEO of the Bob Woodruff Foundation, spoke of the foundation's role as a "reliable backbone of support for our veterans and the military families and caregivers who make service possible," adding that "Nights like this renew my hope in our country's future."

Announced sponsors for this year's event include Bread Financial, Craig Newmark Philanthropies, Navy Federal Credit Union, The Walt Disney Company, National Hockey League, Mastercard, and Citi, among others, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Tickets are on sale now, and the New York Comedy Festival will run Nov. 6-15.