Bob Dylan Awarded Medal of Freedom, the Nation's Highest Civilian Honor

5:07 PM PDT 4/26/2012 by Shirley Halperin

0
0
0
0
0
Email
Print
Comments

Olivia Harris/AFP/Getty Images

President Obama made the announcement recognizing 13 "individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

Bob Dylan has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest honor bestowed upon a United States civilian. The singer-songwriter was one of 13 recipients announced by President Obama on Thursday.

A Look Back at Bob Dylan's First Album on the 50th Anniversary of Its Release

Bob Dylan’s ‘Blood on the Tracks’ Album to Be Made Into a Movie

The Medal of Freedom recognizes “individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors,” said a press release issued by the White House. The awards will be presented there in late spring.

STORY: Jakob Dylan Sets New Wallflowers Album For September

Other recipents include John Glenn, Madeline Albright, Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres and novelist Toni Morrison. Dylan is hailed as “one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century.”

“These extraordinary honorees come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, but each of them has made a lasting contribution to the life of our nation," Obama said. "They’ve challenged us, they’ve inspired us, and they’ve made the world a better place. I look forward to recognizing them with this award.”

Twitter: @THRMusic