According to the Associated Press, Bob Dylan will not attend a December 10 ceremony in Stockholm to accept the Nobel Prize for Literature, for which he was announced the 2016 recipient on October 13. The AP reports that Dylan told the Swedish Academy that “he wishes he could receive the prize personally, but other commitments make it unfortunately impossible.”
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At press time, there is no information regarding who might accept the award on his behalf. Previous recipients of the Nobel Prize for Literature, first awarded in 1901, include Alice Munro, Pablo Neruda and William Faulkner. Dylan is the first songwriter to be honored for Literature.
In other award news, Bruce Springsteen was announced as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He, along with 20 other recipients including Diana Ross, Tom Hanks and Ellen DeGeneres, will receive awards from President Obama at the White House on November 22.
“The Presidential Medal of Freedom is not just our nation’s highest civilian honor,” President Obama said in a statement. “It’s a tribute to the idea that all of us, no matter where we come from, have the opportunity to change this country for the better. From scientists, philanthropists, and public servants to activists, athletes, and artists, these 21 individuals have helped push America forward, inspiring millions of people around the world along the way.”
The White House plans to stream the ceremony live online.
