Bob Dylan is one of thirteen people that will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civillian honour, in late spring.

In a statement from the White House, the honourees are described as "individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors."

As it says in the statement, "One of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century, Dylan released his first album in 1962. Known for his rich and poetic lyrics, his work had considerable influence on the civil rights movement of the 1960s and has had significant impact on American culture over the past five decades. He has won 11 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award. He was named a Commandeur dans l'Ordre des Art et des Lettres and has received a Pulitzer Prize Special Citation. Dylan was awarded the 2009 National Medal of Arts. He has written more than 600 songs, and his songs have been recorded more than 3,000 times by other artists. He continues recording and touring around the world today."

Other recipients this year include former Secretary of State and UN representative Madeline Albright and former Department of Justice Civil Rights Division Attorney General John Doar.