Everything Music. Everything News. Everything live.

Bob Dylan Really Did Pass on the Oscars, Mick Jagger Steps In

The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The White House from Washington, DC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Last night's 2025 Academy Awards included a humorous and unexpected moment involving rock legends Mick Jagger and Bob Dylan, becoming one of the talked-about occurrences of the evening. Jagger was a surprise attendee at this year's Oscars, where he presented the award for Best Original Song. On stage, Jagger revealed that he was not the first choice for this role. The producers' initial pick was Dylan, not surprising considering the significance of Dylan's celebrated biopic, A Complete Unknown, which dramatizes his life and musical achievements.

Despite the film's acclaim and its eight Oscar nominations, including a nod for Best Actor for Timothée Chalamet's portrayal of Dylan, the iconic folk singer opted not to attend. Jagger's stage presence added to the narrative, as he jested about being a “younger,” albeit only slightly, substitute for Dylan.

Throughout the ceremony, the absence of Dylan was a recurrent theme in both Jagger's remarks and Conan O'Brien's monologue. This was particularly poignant given Dylan's historical penchant for avoiding major public appearances, a trait consistent even during significant acknowledgments such as the Nobel Prize. O'Brien remarked that Dylan wanted to be present “but not badly enough,” encapsulating the enigmatic singer-songwriter's known reticence. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Dylan had indeed been asked to present and perform, but he declined, allowing Mick Jagger to step into the role.

The Oscars, known for celebrating the arts of film, embraced Jagger's iconic stature in the music world, treating him to a spirited standing ovation as the rocker walked onto the stage. Jagger’s subsequent impersonation of Dylan offered a glimpse into the camaraderie that exists between music legends. Despite Bob Dylan's physical absence, his presence was palpable throughout the evening, projected through stories, jokes, and a Rolling Stone.

Key Takeaways

Related Stories

Sammy Hagar Crosses the Pond: Adds 4 UK Tour Dates

Sammy Hagar is officially bringing The Best of All Worlds Band to the United Kingdom in summer 2026, marking his…

Jon Bon Jovi Bon Jovi Live in concert at Madison Square Garden, New York, USA - 09 May 2018

Bon Jovi 2026 Tour Dates Announced Following Jon Bon Jovi’s Vocal Cord Surgery

Rock legends Bon Jovi are officially back on the road after several years off the major touring circuit following frontman…

Warren Zevon Tribute Stuns at the United Theater

Event Overview On October 24, 2025, the nonprofit Wild Honey Foundation and the Zevon family presented “Meet Me in L.A.:…

Brian Setzer’s Illness Forces Stray Cats Tour Cancellations

Setzer Reveals Health Battle Rockabilly icon Brian Setzer, best known as the frontman of the Stray Cats, recently revealed that…

Bruce Springsteen Biopic Opens Soft at the Box Office

A Modest Start for “Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere” The Bruce Springsteen biopic Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere hit theaters…

Foo Fighters 2026 Tour Dates Announced

Rock legends Foo Fighters have officially announced a massive North American stadium tour for the summer of 2026. The announcement…

Axl Rose, left, and Slash, of Guns N' Roses, perform on Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Guns N' Roses in concert at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA - 24 Aug 2023

Watch: Axl Rose Melts Down at Guns N’ Roses Concert in Buenos Aires

Axl Rose Loses His Cool on Stage Guns N’ Roses frontman Axl Rose shocked fans at a recent concert in…

UPDATED Illinois man arrested after allegedly impersonating Sammy Hagar

UPDATE: 3:36 PM 10/22/2025 Police in Mount Vernon, Illinois have been in touch with our newsroom and have shared that…

PETA Urges Robert Plant to Rebrand as “Robert Plant Wool”

What’s happening Animal rights organization PETA has made a pointed request to rock legend Robert Plant: temporarily adopt the name…