Bob Dylan Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan | Kevin Winter/Getty Images for AFI
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer and songwriter. He secured his first record deal in 1961 after gaining fame as a folk singer. His most recent studio albums include Together Through Life (2009), Tempest (2012), Shadows in the Night (2015), Fallen Angels (2016), and Rough and Rowdy Ways (2020). Dylan has received an array of honors and recognitions from the Grammys, the Academy Awards, the Golden Globe awards, former President Barack Obama (the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2012)—he's even been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.
- Full name: Robert Dylan
- Born: May 24, 1941
- Height: 5′ 7″
- Spouses: Carolyn Dennis (1986–1992), Sara Dylan (1965–1977)
- Children: Jakob Dylan, Desiree Gabrielle Dennis-Dylan, Sam Dylan, Jesse Dylan, Maria Dylan, Anna Dylan
- Net worth: $500 million
- Genre: Rock, country
Visit Bob Dylan's website.
Read more about Bob Dylan’s music and his personal life:
Entertainment
2 years ago
Many of Bob Dylan’s Friends Refuse to Talk About Him: ‘That’s the Rule’
Entertainment
2 years ago
The Bob Dylan Cover He Called the ‘Highlight of My Career’
Entertainment
1 year ago
A Song Parodied Bob Dylan so Successfully That People Think He Wrote It
Entertainment
2 years ago
Bob Dylan Reportedly Wanted to Beat Up Woody Allen: ‘Let’s All Get Him’
Entertainment
2 years ago
Bob Dylan Didn’t Marry Joan Baez Because He Knew He Couldn’t Compete With Her

classic rock

Music

‘Wicked’: Queen’s Brian May Played on the Best Version of ‘Defying Gravity’

Classic rock and Broadway music sometimes overlap in amazing ways. For example, Queen's Brian May once played guitar on a version of "Defying Gravity" from 'Wicked' that is incredible.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Published on November 21, 2024

2 min read

Music

Cat Stevens Turned a Christian Hymn Into a Hit Song

One of Cat Stevens' songs is a rewrite of a Christian hymn. That's very interesting, considering that Stevens is now one of the only Muslim celebrities in the Western world.

by Matthew Trzcinski

"Father and Son" singer Cat Stevens in black-and-white

Music

Cat Stevens’ ‘Father and Son’ Is From a Musical That Doesn’t Exist

Cat Stevens' "Father and Son" was initially meant for a musical based on major historical events. It's for the best that the musical never came out.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Bob Dylan Borrowed From a Confederate Poet on Several Songs

Bob Dylan became very interested in the Civil War and a Confederate poet. He wrote several songs with the help of lines from the poet.

by Emma McKee

John Lennon wears a gray suit and stands with his hands clasped in front of himself. Bob Dylan wears jeans and a button down shirt and stands with his hands in his pockets.

Music

John Lennon Thought His Songs Should Be ‘Meaningless Hackwork’ Until He Heard Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan had a massive impact on John Lennon's songwriting. The American artist helped Lennon imbue his lyrics with introspection.

by Emma McKee

A black and white picture of Bob Dylan strumming an acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone.

Music

7 Songs You Didn’t Know Bob Dylan Wrote

Hundreds of musicians have covered Bob Dylan's songs. Some of these cover are so successful that they eclipse Dylan's. He also wrote songs for other artists.

by Emma McKee

John Goodman, Luke Wilson, Penelope Cruz, Christian Slater, Laura Elena Harring, Larry Charles, and Bob Dylan wear coats and stand in front of a red and blue flag. Dylan wears a blonde wig.

Celebrity

Bob Dylan Refused to See a Movie He Starred in and Co-Wrote

Bob Dylan has made a number of movies that haven't performed well. He wrote and starred in a movie, but refused to see it.

by Emma McKee

Writer Larry Charles wears sunglasses and a hat while standing with Bob Dylan, who wears a hat, blonde wig, and scarf.

Celebrity

Bob Dylan Worked Closely With a ‘Seinfeld’ Writer on a Widely-Panned Film

Bob Dylan worked with a 'Seinfeld' writer on a screenplay. The writer shared how valuable the experience was, even though the movie flopped.

by Emma McKee

Bob Dylan performs in Paris, France in 1978

Music

Who Bob Dylan Wrote About in ‘Ballad of a Thin Man’

Bob Dylan had a vendetta against Mr. Jones in ‘Ballad of a Thin Man,’ but he has never given a clear answer about who he is

by Ross Tanenbaum

Bob Dylan holds a guitar and stands onstage with Bob Dylan performs with Roger McGuinn, David Crosby and Chris Hillman.

Music

Bob Dylan Called Out The Byrds for Flubbing a Line When They Covered His Song

Bob Dylan once changed the lyrics to a song to call out The Byrds. He was pointing out the fact that they messed up a line when they covered it.

by Emma McKee

Bob Dylan plays guitar and wears a white hat.

Celebrity

Bob Dylan Starred in a Film but Kept Getting Distracted by the Talent of His Co-Stars

Bob Dylan wrote and acted in a 2003 film. He caused problems on-set because of how impressive he found his co-stars.

by Emma McKee

Bob Dylan wears a cowboy hat and holds a guitar. He stands in front of a microphone.

Celebrity

Bob Dylan Wrote a Screenplay Inspired by a Historical Era He Was ‘Very, Very Obsessed’ With

Bob Dylan became incredibly interested in The Civil War in the early 2000s. He released a screenplay and a song influenced by the time period.

by Emma McKee

Celebrity

Bob Dylan Wanted to Make a Dance Movie Starring Jeff Bridges and John Goodman

Bob Dylan had several out-there ideas about a movie he was making. The director said Dylan wanted to turn it into one long dance sequence.

by Emma McKee

The Rolling Stones in front of a curtain

Music

Bob Dylan Couldn’t Decide If The Rolling Stones’ ‘Paint It Black’ Was Better Than This Beatles Song

Bob Dylan compared The Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" to a Beatles song and Frank Sinatra's "Strangers in the Night."

by Matthew Trzcinski

Bob Dylan performs during the 17th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards in Los Angeles, California

Music

Bob Dylan Passed on a Song Paul Simon Wrote for Him

Paul Simon wanted to collaborate on a song with Bob Dylan, and while Dylan liked the song, nothing came out of it

by Ross Tanenbaum

George Harrison and Bob Dylan perform at the Concert for Bangladesh in New York City

Music

The Valuable Life Lesson George Harrison Learned From Bob Dylan’s ‘Blonde on Blonde’

Bob Dylan is a wise lyricist whose songs contain universal themes and messages, and George Harrison learned an important lesson from one of his albums

by Ross Tanenbaum

Beatles members (from left) Ringo Starr, George Harrison, John Lennon, and Paul McCartney sitting closely backstage in 1963; Bob Dylan at a piano before a concert in 1964.

Music

The Time The Beatles Acted Like ‘Scared Little Boys’ in Front of Bob Dylan

The Beatles were so timid in front of of Bob Dylan in 1966 they could barely talk. When they could speak, the Fab Four had nothing but nice things to say about Dylan.

by Jason Rossi