Richmond Folk Music

Bob Dylan has become the first rock ‘n’ roller to be honored with the prestigious award, which recognizes top achievement in journalism, literature, drama and, of course, musical achievement.

The 92nd Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism, Letters, Drama and Music were announced Monday by Columbia University; Dylan received an honorary Pulitzer for “his profound impact on popular music and American culture, marked by lyrical compositions of extraordinary poetic power.”

The times they are a-changin’—this year marked the first time the members of the Pulitzer Prize Board went outside their comfort zone of classical and jazz music.

(For those keeping score at home, the music award went to classical composer David Lang for The Little Match Girl Passion, and the poetry prize was shared by U.S. poet laureate Robert Haas for his National Book Award winner Time and Materials and Phillip Schultz for Failure.)

Dylan could not be reached for comment.

No doubt the Pulitzer will look nice on the rock troubadour’s mantle next to, among other honors, his Oscar, Golden Globe, 10 Grammys and Hall of Fame plaques for the Rock and Roll and Songwriters shrines.

Dylan, whose chameleon-like persona was the basis for last year’s critically acclaimed I’m Not There, released his last album, Modern Times, in 2006, but continues to tour regularly. He is working on the second installment of a planned three-book series of memoirs looking back at his life and 40-year career.

“We are thrilled to be working with the City of Houston and the Toyota Center (arena), and we look forward to embracing its vibrant and ever-evolving Latin community,” Latin Recording Academy President Gabriel Abroa said in a statement.

Like the Grammy awards, which are considered the top U.S. music honors, the Latin Grammys honor excellence in songs, music and performances by Latin artists.

At last year’s ceremony in Las Vegas, which was watched by some 12 million TV viewers, Dominican singer Juan Luis Guerra, Puerto Rican group Calle 13 and Ricky Martin were among top winners. Guerra won five Latin Grammys including album of the year for “La Llave De Mi Corazon” (The Key to My Heart”).

The Latin Recording Academy was launched in 1997 by the U.S.-based National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, which annually gives out the Grammy awards. It was the first international venture of the industry group.

Better known as the hometown of global oil and natural gas companies, Houston is fourth-largest U.S. city, trailing New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Hispanics make up the largest cultural group in Houston comprising 37 percent of the city’s population, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

The Latin Grammys previously have been held in Miami, New York and Las Vegas, and the show is broadcast by Univision, the leading U.S. Spanish-language broadcaster.

Nominations are scheduled to be announced on September 10, and the show will air on November 13.

The 40-year-old Grammy winner spent Monday night at a Las Vegas hospital and was expected to be released after precautionary tests, Flamingo Las Vegas hotel-casino and Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. spokeswoman Deanna Pettit said.

The cause of the chest pain was not immediately known. But Pettit said Braxton, a six-time Grammy winner for songs including “Un-break My Heart” and “Breathe Again,” has been treated in the past for pericarditis, a viral inflammation of the heart.

“We wish Toni a quick recovery and would like her to take the time she needs to regain optimal health,” said Don Marrandino, Flamingo president. “We are looking forward to her return at the end of the week.”

The hotel was offering refunds to the canceled Tuesday show. Pettit said no immediate decision was made whether Braxton’s Wednesday show would be canceled.

Braxton’s act, “Toni Braxton: Revealed,” also has shows scheduled Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the vintage 720-seat Flamingo Showroom. Her two-year run at the Flamingo began in August 2006.

A source close to the show said the episode would be taped this week and likely air March 24, adding that Spears took part in a “table read” rehearsal for the segment Monday.

According to the source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the production, Spears will share scenes with the show’s lead character, Ted, played by Josh Radnor, as a somewhat ditsy woman who works in his doctor’s office and becomes smitten with him.

The show would mark Spears’ first role in a prime-time TV series since a March 2006 guest spot on the NBC comedy “Will & Grace,” in which she played a Christian conservative talk show host opposite series regular Sean Hayes