Bob Dylan was reportedly invited to present and perform at the Oscars
It wasn’t a joke.
During Sunday’s Oscars, Rolling Stones legend Mick Jagger presented Best Song to “El Mal” from Emilia Pérez. However, before announcing the winner, Jagger joked that he was the second choice for the category as Oscar producers originally asked Bob Dylan to attend. “The producers wanted Bob Dylan to do it, but Bob didn’t want to,” Jagger said before mock-quoting Dylan. “The best songs this year are obviously in A Complete Unknown.’ You should find somebody younger.’ OK, I’m younger than Bob! So here I am.”
More from GoldDerby
As it turns out, Jagger was being serious. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dylan was asked to present and perform during the ceremony but turned down the offer.
Jagger wasn’t the only person to reference Dylan, the subject of the Oscar-nominated film A Complete Unknown. During his monologue, host Conan O’Brien said that Dylan wanted to be at the ceremony on Sunday “but not that badly.”
Dylan is an Oscar winner, earning Best Song at the 2001 ceremony for “Things Have Changed” from Wonder Boys. Dylan didn’t attend the ceremony that year and accepted the award while in Australia on tour.
Best of GoldDerby
Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
