It was previously reported that Bob Dylan will not be attending the ceremony where he is being honored with a Nobel Peace Prize in literature, but the musician will still be honored at the event. Patti Smith will be standing in for Bob and performing his song “A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall.”
Patti was already scheduled to perform at the event as it was.
“I had planned to perform one of my own songs with the orchestra. But after Bob Dylan was announced as the winner and he accepted it, It seemed appropriate to set my own song aside and choose one of his. I chose ‘A Hard Rain’ because it is one of his most beautiful songs. It combines his Rimbaudian mastery of language with a deep understanding of the causes of suffering and ultimately human resilience.”
It has also been announced that Bob will provide an acceptance speech to be read at the banquet, but it is not yet known you will be reading it on his behalf. Bob is still required to give a speech within six months “on a subject connected with the work for which the prize has been awarded.”