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
1 year ago
Many of Bob Dylan’s Friends Refuse to Talk About Him: ‘That’s the Rule’
Entertainment
1 year ago
The Bob Dylan Cover He Called the ‘Highlight of My Career’
Entertainment
11 months ago
A Song Parodied Bob Dylan so Successfully That People Think He Wrote It
Entertainment
12 months ago
Bob Dylan Reportedly Wanted to Beat Up Woody Allen: ‘Let’s All Get Him’
Entertainment
1 year ago
Bob Dylan Didn’t Marry Joan Baez Because He Knew He Couldn’t Compete With Her

classic rock

The Rolling Stones' Mick Jagger wearing blue

Music

The Rolling Stones’ Debut Album Turns 60: 5 Facts

The Rolling Stones' self-titled debut album came out on April 16, 1964. It boasts one awesome collaboration with another 1960s rock icon.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Published on April 17, 2024

3 min read

A black and white picture of Fleetwood Mac posed together. Mick Fleetwood wears a hat and stands in the back, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks, and Christine McVie stand in the middle. John McVie stands in front and points at the camera.

Music

The Fleetwood Mac Album Critics Called a Less ‘Potent’ Version of The Beatles’ ‘White Album’

Lindsey Buckingham loved that critics compared a Fleetwood Mac album to The Beatles. They didn't necessarily mean it as a compliment, though.

by Emma McKee

John Lennon's son Sean Lennon Ono wears a black hat and glasses. Paul McCartney' son James McCartney wears a blue suit with a necklace.

Music

John Lennon and Paul McCartney’s Sons Teamed Up on a New Song

John Lennon and Paul McCartney's sons have teamed up on a new song. Here are the details on their new single, "Primrose Hill."

by Emma McKee

Bob Dylan Said Elvis’ ‘Viva Las Vegas’ Is ‘a Commercial’

Bob Dylan had a lot to say about the co-writer of Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas.” "Viva Las Vegas" went on to have a significant impact on the titular city.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Bob Dylan Defended Elvis’ Manager, Colonel Tom Parker

Elvis Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, is not beloved among the King of Rock 'n' Roll's fans. However, Bob Dylan put up a decent defense of Parker.

by Matthew Trzcinski

Music

Cher Was Surprised When She Went to a Bob Dylan Concert

Cher went to see Bob Dylan during his peak era. She was surprised by the "Lay Lady Lay" singer's approach to his catalog.

by Matthew Trzcinski

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

Music

Bob Dylan Accused John Lennon of Accidentally Plagiarizing a Classic Beatles Song

Bob Dylan believed John Lennon accidentally lifted a Beatles guitar riff from another song. Here's the song he thought Lennon took.

by Emma McKee

Music

John Lennon Called Some Bob Dylan Songs ‘Basic’

John Lennon once said that he felt the "basic" Bob Dylan songs were based on the music of three countries from Europe.

by Matthew Trzcinski

A black and white picture of Bob Dylan standing with his arm around David Bowie's shoulders. Dylan wears sunglasses.

Celebrity

David Bowie Thought Bob Dylan Hated Him After They Met Under ‘Very Bad’ Circumstances

Bob Dylan and David Bowie spent a night together in the mid-1970s. Dylan's reaction to the conversation made Bowie think he hated him.

by Emma McKee

Bettye LaVette wears a black dress and sings into a microphone. Bob Dylan stands on a stage wearing a suit. He rests his hand on his hip.

Music

Bettye LaVette Said Bob Dylan Was a ‘Motherf*****’ for the Way He Reacted to Her Album of His Songs

Bob Dylan didn't have much to say about Bettye LaVette's album of his songs. This made her lose all respect for him.

by Emma McKee

Bob Dylan singing into a microphone in 2015; Tom Jones waving to the camera at a 2015 event.

Music

1 Tom Jones Album Smashed Bob Dylan’s Chart Record

Bob Dylan set a record when he hit No. 1 in England in 2020 with 'Rough and Rowdy Ways,' but Tom Jones broke the record less than a year later.

by Jason Rossi

Bob Dylan leans against a window ledge and holds a cigarette.

Celebrity

Bob Dylan Flunked Out of a College Class for Being Too Compassionate

Bob Dylan said he flunked out of a science class in college. He shared what he did to get such a low grade.

by Emma McKee

Bob Dylan performing at the Pavilion de Paris in France in 1978

Music

Bob Dylan Almost Recorded an Elvis Presley Cover Album

Bob Dylan tended to stick with songs he’d written but he almost made an exception to do an album of Elvis Presley covers

by Ross Tanenbaum

A black and white picture of Bob Dylan playing an electric guitar and singing into a microphone.

Music

Bob Dylan’s Fans Thought His ‘Dirty, Vulgar’ Backing Band Was ‘Killing’ His Career

Bob Dylan's fans grew frustrated with him in the mid-1960s. During concerts, they encouraged him to fire his backing band. Here's why.

by Emma McKee

A black and white picture of Bob Dylan playing an acoustic guitar and singing into a micrphone.

Celebrity

A Crowd Asked Bob Dylan Where Ringo Starr Was as They Booed Him in Concert

Bob Dylan's fans were not happy with his decision to go electric. They used Ringo Starr's name to make this clear to the musician.

by Emma McKee

A black and white picture of Bob Dylan playing the acoustic guitar and singing into a microphone.

Music

Bob Dylan Once Said That Anyone Who Doesn’t Understand His Music Is ‘Missing Something’

Bob Dylan once said that his music isn't very hard to understand. He shared his belief that anyone with an imagination should understand his songs.

by Emma McKee

A black and white picture of Bob Dylan wearing sunglasses and a striped shirt.

Celebrity

Martin Scorsese ‘Went Nuts’ on Bob Dylan for Almost Ruining His Film

Bob Dylan did not want Martin Scorsese to film him for a documentary. This would have derailed the whole project and its financing.

by Emma McKee

Music

Bob Dylan Thought He Got ‘Carried Away’ When Writing This Lengthy Song

Bob Dylan wrote one song that is over 11-minutes long, and even he admits he got ‘carried away’ while writing it

by Ross Tanenbaum

Bob Dylan wears a bolo tie and stands in front of a microphone.

Music

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