After ignoring Swedish Academy requests that he acknowledge his 2016 Nobel Prize in literature, Bob Dylan has finally responded and recognized the honor "for having created new poetic expressions within great American song tradition," saying he hopes to attend the ceremony.
The prize is worth about $900,000.
"Absolutely. ... If it's at all possible,” Dylan told the British newspaper the Guardian, of his intentions to attend the ceremony. He also called the honor "amazing, incredible."
Dylan, after many people complained that he was unworthy of the award, called the Swedish Academy this week, according to a news release from the foundation, and the iconic folk crooner said, “If I accept the prize? Of course.”
The academy announced two weeks ago that Dylan, 75, had won the Nobel Prize, but he hadn’t responded to the foundation until now. One official initially blasted the folk singer, calling his behavior "impolite and arrogant."
But the news release stated that, indeed, Dylan was touched by the honor.
“The news about the Nobel Prize left me speechless," he told Sara Danius, permanent secretary of the Swedish Academy. “I appreciate the honor so much.”
According to the Nobel statutes, however, Dylan will need to give a public presentation within six months in order to accept the cash prize.
Officials from the Swedish Academy have already said the "lecture" presentation could take the form of a concert, though not necessarily his own music, and that they are working with their laureate to find a suitable venue, not necessarily in Stockholm, for fulfilling the duty.