Bob Dylan is set to become the latest international celebrity to be awarded France’s highest civilian honor, the Legion d'Honneur. While Dylan had been up for the award previously, his nomination was at first rejected before Grand Chancellor Jean-Louis Georgelin approved the nomination over the weekend.
Reuters reports that Georgelin wrote letter in Sunday’s Le Monde, praising Dylan for hi five decades in the music industry and his cultural impact on the world. He wrote that Dylan is an “exceptional artist” known around the world as a “tremendous singer and great poet.”
The confirmation comes after Le Canard Enchaine suggested in May that Dylan hadn’t received the award yet because of his marijuana use and his opposition to the Vietnam War. While Georgelin did note that his original nomination was rejected, he did not go into details.
The Legion d’Honneur is handed out to celebrities both French and from outside the country. Last year, Paul McCartney received the honor, as did actress Salma Hayek. Other recent recipients include Clint Eastwood and J.K. Rowling.
This is the latest honor for Dylan, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom last year.
Dylan’s iconic album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan, turned 50-years-old last week.
image: Daniel S Levine