The Two Secret Wives Of Bob Dylan: An Updated Look At The Women Who Inspired His Greatest Songs

Bob Dylan’s private life has always been shrouded in the same mystique as his lyrics, leading to decades of speculation about the women who stood behind the man and inspired his most profound work. As of December 2025, the music icon has been married twice, both times in highly private ceremonies that were only revealed to the public years later, underscoring his lifelong dedication to privacy.

Understanding "who Bob Dylan married" is to trace the hidden history of his life between the lines of his most famous albums, from the raw heartbreak of *Blood on the Tracks* to the spiritual depth of his Christian period. These two marriages—to actress and model Sara Lownds and to backup singer Carolyn Dennis—are critical chapters in the life of the Nobel Laureate, shaping his family, his career, and the narrative of the '60s folk revival and beyond.

The Complete Biographical Profiles of Bob Dylan's Wives

Bob Dylan, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, has been officially married twice. Both relationships were kept secret from the public for years, a testament to the lengths he went to protect his family from the intense media scrutiny that defined his early career.

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Wife #1: Sara Lownds (Sara Dylan)

• Full Name: Sara Lownds (born Shirley Marlin Noznisky)
• Profession: Former actress and model.
• Date of Birth: October 25, 1939 (as Shirley Marlin Noznisky).
• Marriage Date: November 22, 1965.
• Divorce Date: June 1977.
• Children with Dylan: Five. Maria Lownds (Sara’s daughter from a previous marriage, adopted by Dylan), Jesse Dylan (filmmaker), Anna Dylan, Samuel Dylan, and Jakob Dylan (lead singer of The Wallflowers).
• Legacy Connection: Sara is widely considered the muse for some of Dylan's most famous songs, including "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" and the title track "Sara" from the *Desire* album.

The marriage to Sara Lownds was a closely guarded secret, only confirmed to the public in 1966 by a friend, after their first child was born. They lived a relatively secluded life in Woodstock, New York, during Dylan's recovery from a motorcycle accident, a period that yielded some of his most introspective work. The tumultuous end of their marriage in the mid-1970s directly inspired the highly acclaimed 1975 album *Blood on the Tracks*, which is often cited as one of the greatest breakup albums ever recorded.

Wife #2: Carolyn Dennis (Carol Dennis-Dylan)

• Full Name: Carolyn Dennis (sometimes credited as Carol Dennis or Carol Dennis-Dylan).
• Profession: American singer, actress, and backup vocalist.
• Date of Birth: April 12, 1954.
• Marriage Date: June 4, 1986.
• Divorce Date: October 1992.
• Children with Dylan: One. Desiree Gabrielle Dennis-Dylan.
• Legacy Connection: Carolyn was a backup singer for Dylan, touring with him during his "Never Ending Tour" era and his period of Christian music. Their marriage was kept completely secret for nearly 15 years, only being revealed in the 2001 biography *Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan* by Howard Sounes.

Carolyn Dennis began working with Dylan in the late 1970s, around the time of his conversion to Christianity, and was a prominent backup singer throughout his 1980s tours. Their daughter, Desiree, was born five months before their secret wedding. The secrecy surrounding this second marriage was even more profound than the first, shocking the music world when it was finally revealed in 2001.

Sara Lownds: The Muse of 'Blood on the Tracks' and the 'Sad Eyed Lady'

The relationship between Bob Dylan and Sara Lownds is one of the most romanticized and agonizing chapters in rock history. Sara was a sophisticated, beautiful figure in the New York art and film scene when they met in 1964. She was married to photographer Hans Lownds at the time, but Dylan was immediately smitten.

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Their life together, which included raising their large family in relative isolation, became the foundation for some of his most tender songs. The epic 11-minute track "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" from the 1966 album *Blonde on Blonde* is a direct, poetic tribute to her. The song's title alone encapsulates the mystique and reverence Dylan held for his first wife.

However, it is the 1975 album *Blood on the Tracks* that cemented Sara's place in the public imagination. Though Dylan has sometimes denied the album is strictly autobiographical, the lyrics—particularly on tracks like "Tangled Up in Blue," "Simple Twist of Fate," and "If You See Her, Say Hello"—are universally interpreted as a raw, painful chronicle of their separation and impending divorce. The song "Sara," released the following year, is a desperate, heartfelt plea for reconciliation, a rare moment where Dylan publicly addressed his private pain, singing, "Stayin' up for days in the Chelsea Hotel, writing 'Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands' for you."

Carolyn Dennis: The Secret Marriage and the Gospel Era

Dylan’s second marriage to Carolyn Dennis is often overlooked, largely due to its secrecy, but it represents a significant period in his life and music. Carolyn, a talented gospel and pop singer, met Dylan while working as a backup vocalist. Their relationship developed during a time when Dylan was deeply immersed in his Christian faith, a phase that produced albums like *Slow Train Coming* and *Saved*.

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The marriage in 1986, shortly after the birth of their daughter Desiree, remained a complete secret until the 2001 biography. This revelation reshaped the public's understanding of Dylan's personal life, confirming that he had been a married man during much of his "Never Ending Tour" era. The marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce in 1992, but it further demonstrated Dylan's commitment to compartmentalizing his public and private worlds.

Carolyn Dennis, who continues her career as a singer and actress, has maintained a dignified silence about the specifics of her marriage to Dylan, focusing instead on their shared daughter, Desiree, and their cordial post-divorce relationship. This mutual respect for privacy from both of his ex-wives has allowed Dylan to maintain the enigmatic persona that has defined his career for over six decades.

The Children and the Continuing Dylan Legacy

A key aspect of Dylan's marriages is the large, successful family they produced. His six children—Maria, Jesse, Anna, Sam, Jakob, and Desiree—have all gone on to pursue careers in the arts and media, continuing the creative legacy of their father.

• Jakob Dylan is arguably the most famous, achieving international success as the frontman for the band The Wallflowers, proving that the musical genius runs in the family.
• Jesse Dylan is a well-known film director and producer, working on major motion pictures and commercials.

The children's success, particularly Jakob's, is a testament to the stable, though highly private, environment provided by both Sara and Bob Dylan during their formative years. The family’s commitment to staying out of the spotlight has been a consistent theme, with Jakob once stating that his father's instruction was always to keep their private lives out of the media.

In his 2004 memoir, *Chronicles: Volume One*, Dylan reflects on his early life and the pressures of fame, offering a small, unnamed glimpse of Sara, describing the comfort and focus he found in his new marriage and family life in the mid-1960s. This brief, poetic reference is one of the few times he has publicly acknowledged the profound, life-altering impact his wives had on him, confirming that the most personal songs of his career were indeed fueled by the women he chose to marry.