Mr. Tambourine Man is now Mr. Pulitzer Prize Owner.
Bob Dylan has become the first rock 'n' roller to be honored with the prestigious award, which recognizes top achievement in journalism, literature, drama and, of course, musical achievement.
The 92nd Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music were announced Monday by Columbia University; Dylan received an honorary Pulitzer for "his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power."
The times they are a-changin'—this year marked the first time the members of the Pulitzer Prize Board went outside their comfort zone of classical and jazz music.
(For those keeping score at home, the music award went to classical composer David Lang for The Little Match Girl Passion, and the poetry prize was shared by U.S. poet laureate Robert Haas for his National Book Award winner Time and Materials and Phillip Schultz for Failure.)
Dylan could not be reached for comment.
No doubt the Pulitzer will look nice on the rock troubadour's mantle next to, among other honors, his Oscar, Golden Globe, 10 Grammys and Hall of Fame plaques for the Rock and Roll and Songwriters shrines.
Dylan, whose chameleon-like persona was the basis for last year's critically acclaimed I'm Not There, released his last album, Modern Times, in 2006, but continues to tour regularly. He is working on the second installment of a planned three-book series of memoirs looking back at his life and 40-year career.