Bob Dylan Feis Festival London - P 2011
Olivia Harris/AFP/Getty ImagesBob 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.
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.
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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.”
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