Acclaimed musician Bob Dylan built a remarkable career that spanned several decades, but the singer also became a husband and father. He has been married twice, welcoming five biological children and raising one adopted daughter.

Bob Dylan trailblazed through the American music industry and used his platform to advocate for social equality from the 1960s when his career began skyrocketing. Amid the success he accumulated, the legendary singer-songwriter also found love.

He married actress Sara Dylan in 1965 and welcomed four children, but they were a family of seven. Sarah had a daughter from a previous relationship that she and Bob raised alongside their younger kids.

Bob Dylan poses at a press call on April, 1965, in the Embankment Gardens, London. | Source: Getty Images

The former couple divorced in 1977 after 12 years of marriage. Bob then married Carolyn Dennis in 1986 but kept their relationship extremely guarded. They had one daughter, born the same year they wed, who was only known to the public when she was 15.

She and three of her half-siblings are all artistically gifted and are pursuing professional careers in entertainment. However, the rest of Bob's children have chosen quiet lives away from the spotlight.

Bob Dylan performs on stage during A Conspiracy of Hope concert on behalf of Amnesty International at the Forum on June 6, 1986, in Inglewood, California. | Source: Getty Images

Maria Lownds

Maria Lownds drew her first breath in October 1961. She was born in her mother's previous marriage to Hans Lownds. After Sarah married Bob, the singer legally adopted Maria and raised her as his own.

There is little else about Maria, regarding her career or personal life, beyond her relation to Bob. She has lived quietly and away from the public eye.

Bob Dylan and his then-wife, Sara Dylan, arrive at an airport on September 2, 1969. | Source: Getty Images

Jesse Dylan

Jesse Dylan is Sarah and Bob's first biological child, born in January 1966. Jesse ventured into entertainment, like his dad, but he also developed an interest in healthcare. A film director, producer, and businessman, he founded the marketing and communications company Wondros.

Jesse also directed several music videos for artists, including Black Eyed Peas, Tom Waits, and Nelly Furtado. Regarding his work in Wondros, Jesse has served numerous high-profile clients, including Netflix, the United Nations, and Harvard Medical School.

His company also sponsors the Life Itself Conference, where, in July 2022, he spoke about helping patients get access to clinical trial sites. In August 2023, he shared that his interest in health care sprouted from personal experiences.

"Family members were struggling with different undiagnosed health conditions, and it was difficult to find reliable medical information," the LA-based entrepreneur explained, adding that the internet only added to the powerlessness and fear he felt at the time.

Eventually, he found the missing middle. "That's when I started to realize we could bring our storytelling skills to bear in the giant universe of healthcare and communications and connect people with the resources and knowledge they needed," he said.

Anna Dylan

Anna Dylan is the second youngest of Bob and Sarah's children, born in July 1967. Like her adopted sister, Maria, Anna has hidden her life from the spotlight. She has no social media presence but is reportedly an artist.

Samuel Dylan

Samuel Dylan was born a few weeks after Anna's first birthday, in July 1968. He is married to the co-founder of Connecting to Cure Crohn's and Colitis (C to C), Stacy Dylan, also a licensed marriage and family therapist.

The couple met while studying at Hampshire College. They share two sons, one of whom was diagnosed with Crohn's disease at two. Little is known about Samuel's career, but his wife co-founded C to C in honor and support of their son and others struggling with Crohn's and related diseases.

Bob Dylan performing at the Last Waltz at Winterland on November 25, 1976, in San Francisco, California. | Source: Getty Images

Jakob Dylan

Jakob Dylan drew his first breath in December 1969. Like his father, Jakob is a musician. He's the lead singer of the rock band The Wallflowers. Although he has guarded his privacy like his older siblings, he once spoke about his relationship with his dad.

Describing him as an affectionate and loving father, he added, "Other people have put that tag on [Bob] in some otherworldly sense. I say it as any kid who admired his dad and had a great relationship with him."

Jakob also emphasized his father's presence and support, saying he never missed his Little Leagues games as a kid, and he collected every home run ball he ever hit. He took after Bob as a family man, welcoming four sons of his own. They, too, were musically inclined, as he shared:

"We all play together. They've taken a strong liking to [guitar, piano, and drums]. It gets loud!"

Desiree Gabrielle Dennis-Dylan

Desiree Gabrielle Dennis-Dylan was born in January 1986. She is the youngest of Bob's biological children. Her mother, Carolyn, is a rock gospel singer who once worked as one of Bob's backup singers.

The former couple married five months after Desiree's arrival, but they kept their relationship extremely private and hid their daughter's existence from the world. They agreed it was best to keep Desiree away from the public eye to give her as ordinary a life as they could.

Bob was still present in Desiree's life, visiting her and her mother discreetly in a Los Angeles suburb. Desiree only bore her dad's last name once she was old enough to decide if she wanted to.

When that time came, she chose to hyphenate. Her existence became public when her father's 2001 biography, "Down the Highway," was released. Carylon and Bob had long been divorced (1992) by then.

Still, Carolyn came to Bob's defense when he faced criticism over their mutual decision to protect Desiree. "To portray Bob as hiding his daughter is just malicious and ridiculous. Bob has been a wonderful, active father to Desiree," she explained.

"Bob and I kept our marriage secret for a simple reason - to give our daughter a normal childhood," Carolyn added. Desiree is also musically talented; she plays drums and sings. She also has an active Instagram and Facebook page.

In 2013, she became engaged to her longtime girlfriend, Kayla Sampson. The lovebirds met in The Young Americans, a non-profit traveling performing arts group, in early 2007. They planned to marry in 2014 and revealed they had invited Bob; however, the musician had yet to respond.

The wedding day came, and, reportedly, he never showed. According to a guest who attended the wedding, Kayla danced with her dad while Desiree danced with her mom. But as for Desiree and Kayla, it's unknown if they are still married, as there's no trace of Kayla in Desiree's socials.

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