NEW YORK – Music and comedy royalty struck a defiant tone in a benefit concert for Superstorm Sandy victims on Wednesday, asking for help to rebuild a New York metropolitan area most of them know well.

The sold-out Madison Square Garden show was televised, streamed online and aired on radio all over the world. Producers said up to 2 billion people could experience the concert live.

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Renowned rocker Bruce Springsteen performs at 12-12-12 The Concert for Sandy Relief at Madison Square Garden in New York on Wednesday, The Associated Press

Jenna Bush Hager

Lindsay Lohan

“When are you going to learn,” comic and New Jersey native Jon Stewart said. “You can throw anything at us – terrorists, hurricanes. You can take away our giant sodas. It doesn’t matter. We’re coming back stronger every time.”

Jersey shore hero Bruce Springsteen set a roaring tone, opening the concert with “Land of Hope and Dreams” and “Wrecking Ball.” He addressed the rebuilding process in introducing his song, “My City of Ruins,” noting it was written about the decline of Asbury Park, N.J., before that city’s renaissance over the past decade. What made the Jersey shore special was its inclusiveness, a place where people of all incomes and backgrounds could find a place, he said.

“I pray that that characteristic remains along the Jersey shore because that’s what makes it special,” Springsteen said.

He mixed a verse of Tom Waits’ “Jersey Girl” into the song before calling New Jersey neighbor Jon Bon Jovi to join him in a rousing “Born to Run.” Springsteen later returned the favor by joining Bon Jovi on “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”

Adam Sandler hearkened back to his “Saturday Night Live” days with a ribald rewrite of the oft-sung “Hallelujah” that composer Leonard Cohen never would have dreamed. The rewritten chorus says, “Sandy, screw ya, we’ll get through ya, because we’re New Yawkers.

Sandler wore a New York Jets T-shirt and mined Donald Trump, Michael Bloomberg, the New York Knicks, Times Square porn and Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez for laugh lines.

The music lineup was heavily weighted toward classic rock, which has the type of fans able to afford a show for which ticket prices ranged from $150 to $2,500. Even with those prices, people with tickets have been offering them for more on broker sites such as StubHub.

Another Bush sprouting, says Jenna

NEW YORK – Former first daughter Jenna Bush Hager announced Wednesday that she’s pregnant with her first child, due in the spring.

The 31-year-old made the announcement on NBC’s “Today” show, where she is a contributing correspondent.

Hager, the twin daughter of former President George W. Bush, and her husband, Henry, have been married for four years. He joined his wife on the “Today” set when she made the announcement.

During a phone call on the show, former President Bush said he’s “fired up” about becoming a grandfather, and former first lady Laura Bush said she’s “thrilled.” It will be their first grandchild.

Judge revokes Lindsay Lohan’s probation

LOS ANGELES – A judge revoked Lindsay Lohan’s probation on Wednesday and scheduled a hearing that could result in more jail time for the closely watched “Liz and Dick” star.

The ruling in Los Angeles came as the 26-year-old actress — who did not appear in court — faces misdemeanor counts of reckless driving, lying to a police officer and obstructing an officer from performing duties after an accident in which her Porsche slammed into the back of a dump truck in June.

Lohan told police in Santa Monica that her assistant was driving, but detectives now believe the actress was behind the wheel as she headed to a movie set.

Lohan was on probation at the time after previously being convicted of the misdemeanor theft of a necklace.

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