The Pulitzers, considered America's highest national honor, were only awarded to classical music until 1996 when the award was given to jazz artist Wynton Marsalis. Dylan, the first rocker to break through, received a special honorary musical award for his "profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power." Previous recipients of the special Pulitzer include jazz icon John Coltrane, composer George Gershwin and science-fiction author Ray Bradbury.
