Jack White + More Honor Bob Dylan as 'Person of the Year'

In September, we reported that the one and only Bob Dylan would be recognized as the 2015 MusiCares Person of the Year. That recognition finally came Friday night (Feb. 6), along with a massive celebration from various rock stars and an unforgettable speech from the icon himself.

The honor comes in the middle of Grammy Week as we prepare for the 57th Annual Grammy Awards Sunday night. Neil Portnow, President and CEO of the MusiCares Foundation, said, “It is most fitting that we are honoring Bob Dylan, whose body of creative work has contributed to America’s culture, as well as that of the entire world, in genuinely deep and lasting ways."

That body of work was represented by 17 different performances, ranging from Beck’s cover of ‘Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat’ and Jack White’s rendition of ‘One More Cup of Coffee’ to Bruce Springsteen (with Tom Morello) rocking ‘Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door’ and a haunting cover of ‘Blowin’ In the Wind’ by Neil Young. (You can check out photos and more from the evening -- and get the whole setlist -- below.)

In addition to the raucous covers, Dylan -- a man who recently gave his first proper interview in nearly three years and rarely chats with the audience or even introduces his band at concerts -- stood in front of the crowd and gave a lengthy acceptance speech.

After being introduced by former President Jimmy Carter, Dylan engaged the crowd on a number of topics, including Marsha Ambroisius' singing of the national anthem in 2012 ("Mangling lyrics, mangling a melody, mangling a treasured song"), calling out those who have criticized him since day one ("Critics say I can't sing. I croak. Sound like a frog. Why don't critics say the same thing about Tom Waits"), sharing his thoughts on nine musicians who have had a profound impact on him ("Johnny [Cash] was an intense character, and he saw that people were putting me down") and how many of his songs can be traced -- not surprisingly -- to traditional folk tunes ("There's nothing secret about it").

Diffuser would like to congratulate Bob Dylan on this tremendous honor -- we can't think of anyone more deserving of it. Check out the setlist, various videos and several photos from the evening below:

2015 MusiCares Person of the Year -- Setlist, Feb. 6, 2015
Beck -- 'Leopard Skin Pill--Box Hat'
Aaron Neville -- 'Shooting Star'
Alanis Morissette -- 'Subterranean Homesick Blues'
Los Lobos -- 'On a Night Like This'
Willie Nelson -- 'Senor'
Jackson Browne -- 'Blind Willie McTell'
John Mellencamp -- 'Highway 61 Revisited'
Jack White -- 'One More Cup of Coffee'
Tom Jones -- 'What Good Am I'
Norah Jones -- 'I'll Be Your Baby Tonight'
Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi -- 'Million Miles'
John Doe -- 'Pressing On'
Crosby, Stills & Nash -- 'Girl from the North Country'
Bonnie Raitt -- 'Standing in the Doorway'
Sheryl Crow -- 'Boots of Spanish Leather'
Garth Brooks (via satellite from Pittsburgh) -- 'Make You Feel My Love'
Bruce Springsteen -- 'Knockin' on Heaven's Door'
Neil Young -- 'Blowin' In the Wind'