Keillor to step aside for a couple ‘Prairie Home’ shows; musician Chris Thile to guest host

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Host Garrison Keillor plans to stay home and listen to “A Prairie Home Companion” on the radio for a couple of shows this winter.

Mandolinist Chris Thile (THEE’-lee) of the band Nickel Creek will be the guest host for shows Feb. 7 and 14 from the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul.

It’s only the second time in the show’s 40-year history that it’s had a guest host. Singer and fiddler Sara Watkins, Thile’s bandmate in Nickel Creek, hosted in 2011.

Keillor says “Prairie Home” has been “a pretty dependable show, and now and then it likes to do something entirely different.”

The 72-year-old humorist and bestselling author says he looks forward “to sitting at home and listening” to the shows.

Tickets for the show’s winter run go on sale Tuesday.

News from © The Associated Press, . All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community?

The Associated Press

The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world’s population sees AP journalism every day.