In 2016, singer-songwriter Bob Dylan made headlines around the world when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. Although the Swedish Academy didn’t hear from the 75-year-old rock legend for a couple of weeks, Dylan finally stated that “the news about the Nobel Prize left me speechless. I appreciate the honor so much.” Dylan can add the Nobel Prize to his long list of achievements, including numerous Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a successful concert tour - dubbed the "Never Ending Tour" -- that has been going on since 1988. Throughout the 1990's, 2000's, and 2010's, Dylan has played between 70 and 120 shows each year.
In a 2009 interview, he explained some of the rationale behind his continuous touring schedule: “These days, people are lucky to have a job. Any job. So critics might be uncomfortable with my working so much. Anybody with a trade can work as long as they want. They don't necessarily need to retire.”
Like a rolling stone:
In 1997, Dylan was forced to take time off after histoplasmosis, a potentially fatal chest infection, landed him in the hospital. The three-month break from the road was his longest since 1988.
The Swedish Academy stated that it was giving the Nobel Prize to Dylan “for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition.”
Dylan has since announced that he will not be attending the awards ceremony in person.
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