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
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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

Glenn Frey Said ‘Take It Easy’ Changed Everything for The Eagles

The Eagles' "Take It Easy" was an announcement in more ways than one. The tune transitioned 1960s music into 1970s music.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Published on November 2, 2024

2 min read

Wearing a white lacy gown, Stevie Nicks performs on December 10, 1983, on 'Saturday Night' Live

Celebrity

Stevie Nicks Said 2 Iconic Musicians Taught Her How to ‘Spend Money’

Stevie Nicks befriended two musicians in the 1970s. She shared what she learned from them.

by Emma McKee

Music

The Monkees Made Their Own Version of The Beatles’ ‘A Day in the Life’

The Beatles' "A Day in the Life" is the band's magnum opus. Interestingly, The Monkees released a song with a lot of the same elements.

by Matthew Trzcinski

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

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 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

Bob Dylan stands with his hands in the pockets of his jeans; The Beatles rehearsing for their performance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in 1964.

Music

Bob Dylan’s Favorite Beatles Song Is an Understandable Choice

Bob Dylan's favorite Beatles song is the same as several musicians, but his choice makes sense for the impact it had on pop music.

by Jason Rossi

Bob Dylan wearing sunglasses during a 1966 press conference; Beatles members Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, George Harrison and John Lennon wearing suits during a 1966 TV appearance.

Music

How Bob Dylan Pranked The Beatles The 1st Time They Got High Together

Bob Dylan pranked the stoned Beatles by treating them like dominoes when they got high together in 1964.

by Jason Rossi

George Harrison, Roger McGuinn, Bob Dylan, and Tom Petty rehearse onstage

Music

Tom Petty Said George Harrison Made ‘Bob Dylan Bootlegs’ Because He Was So ‘Reverent of Bob’

George Harrison almost crossed the line a few times while trying to obtain recordings of Bob Dylan that he could listen to later

by Ross Tanenbaum

Music

Bob Dylan Once Covered the Racist Song ‘Dixie’

Bob Dylan sang "Dixie" as a warm-up. The tune appeared on the soundtrack of a forgotten movie.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Bob Dylan wears a black vest and plays an acoustic guitar.

Music

Bob Dylan Wrote an Album to Make His Fans Forget About Him, But It Completely ‘Backfired’

Bob Dylan wrote an album that he hoped would make his fans dislike him. He shared why he felt he had to take this step.

by Emma McKee

Beatles members (from left) Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and John Lennon during a 1964 press conference; Bob Dylan smoking a cigarette before a 1965 concert in England.

Music

The Beatles Lyrics Bob Dylan Didn’t Understand

The lyrics for “I Want to Hold Your Hand” were straightforward, but Dylan didn’t understand what Lennon and McCartney were saying.

by Jason Rossi

Music

The 1 Song Bob Dylan Said He Wrote About Past Relationships

Bob Dylan tried not to air out his grievances toward people in his music, but there is one song where his emotions got the better of him

by Ross Tanenbaum

Dolly Parton and Bob Dylan performing at different concerts

Music

Dolly Parton Almost Made a Bob Dylan Cover Album

Dolly Parton wanted to record a cover album of Bob Dylan songs, but her odd relationship with the singer made her have second thoughts

by Ross Tanenbaum

Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen play guitars and sing into the same microphone.

Music

Bruce Springsteen Changed His Writing Style After an Album Sounded Too Much Like Bob Dylan

Bruce Springsteen admired Bob Dylan. Springsteen realized he took the inspiration too far, though, and changed his writing style.

by Emma McKee

A black and white picture of Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan sitting on a ledge and playing guitars.

Music

Johnny Cash Thought Bob Dylan Was an ‘Old Country Singer’ When He First Heard Him

Bob Dylan impressed Johnny Cash even in early in his career. Cash explained why he found the younger artist so compelling as a musician.

by Emma McKee

Bob Dylan

Read more about Bob Dylan’s music and his personal life: