Cut 'n' pasted from http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-04-27/bob-dylan-awarded-top-us-honour/3976856

The White House has announced US folk singer Bob Dylan will be honoured with the country's highest civilian award.

The 70-year-old will be awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by president Barack Obama in a ceremony next month.

The White House says Dylan was chosen because of his contribution to American culture and to the civil rights movement of the 1960s.

"These extraordinary honourees come from different backgrounds and different walks of life, but each of them has made a lasting contribution to the life of our nation," Mr Obama said in a statement.

Dylan has been a defining figure in folk and rock music for nearly half a century.

Known for his poetic lyrics, his work "had considerable influence on the civil rights movement of the 1960s," the statement said.

"They've challenged us, they've inspired us, and they've made the world a better place. I look forward to recognising them with this award."