NEW YORK (AP) — If he lived in England, he’d surely be Sir Bob Dylan.

The century-old American Academy of Arts and Letters said Tuesday that Dylan has become the first rock star to join the ranks of its artists, who include Philip Roth and Jasper Johns.

Executive director Virginia Dajani said officials couldn’t decide whether Dylan belonged for his words or for his music, so they settled on making him an honorary member.

The academy also announced three new inductees for its core membership: novelist Ward Just, known for his stories set in Washington, D.C.; the influential minimalist artist Richard Tuttle and the acclaimed painter and printmaker Terry Winters.