Garrison Keillor, the creator and host of "A Prairie Home Companion,” announced his forthcoming retirement yesterday.
He’ll call it quits after the conclusion of next year’s season in the fall of 2016. Keillor will continue to be involved with the show, serving as executive producer.
Garrison Keillor has hosted A Prairie Home Companion since 1974.
"I’m stepping down because it’s the sensible thing to do when you are 72- almost 73,” Keillor told the Associated Press on Monday.
He claims he never set out to be in radio, but that it was more of an accident.
“My idea always was to be a writer and when you get to be 72, it’s time you should get back to doing what you set out to do.”
Mandolinist Chris Thile has been chosen to replace the popular, longtime host. Keillor calls Thile a “genius musician” and says he’s the perfect new host of "A Prairie Home Companion."
You can see Garrison Keillor during his farewell, “America the Beautiful” tour next week. He stops by Interlochen Center for the Arts for a show on Tuesday, July 28 at 8:00pm.
For tickets and information visit tickets.interlochen.org
