Garrison Keillor

Garrison Keillor is an American author, storyteller, and radio personality best known as the creator and longtime host of the popular live radio variety show A Prairie Home Companion. For over four decades, his gentle, folksy humor and weekly "News from Lake Wobegon" monologues, chronicling the fictional Minnesota town, made him a beloved national institution on public radio. His career also encompasses numerous bestselling books, a daily poetry and literary history program The Writer's Almanac, and work as a columnist for publications like The New York Times and The Atlantic.

Early life and education

Born Gary Edward Keillor in Anoka, Minnesota, he was raised in a Plymouth Brethren family, a conservative Christian denomination that forbade dancing and radio, an irony he later noted. He developed an early love for literature and writing, adopting the name "Garrison" while submitting work to his high school newspaper. He attended the University of Minnesota, where he began his broadcasting career at the student radio station Radio K and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature in 1966. His early professional writing included pieces for The New Yorker magazine, where he was influenced by editors like William Shawn.

Radio career

His radio career began in earnest at Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), where he was assigned to cover a Grand Ole Opry performance for American Public Media. This inspired him to create A Prairie Home Companion, which first aired in 1974 from the World Theater (now the Fitzgerald Theater) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The show, featuring folk music, jazz ensembles like the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, and comedic sketches, became a flagship program for National Public Radio and later Public Radio International. He retired from hosting the show in 2016, though it continues under new management. He also created and hosted the daily short-form program The Writer's Almanac, which blended poetry readings with historical literary notes.

Writing and other works

Beyond radio, he is a prolific author whose works often expand the Lake Wobegon universe. His bestselling novels include Lake Wobegon Days, WLT: A Radio Romance, and Pontoon. He has published collections of humor such as Happy to Be Here, volumes of poetry, and several memoirs including The Book of Guys and That Time of Year. His written work extends to regular columns for Salon.com and the Baltimore Sun, and he has performed live monologue tours across the United States and internationally, including at Carnegie Hall.

Public image and legacy

Widely recognized by his distinctive suit, red tie, and spectacles, he cultivated a public persona as a gentle, nostalgic humorist in the tradition of Mark Twain and James Thurber. His storytelling, emphasizing Midwestern themes of community, humility, and quiet resilience, earned him a Peabody Award, a Grammy Award, and a National Humanities Medal. While his legacy is firmly tied to the cultural impact of A Prairie Home Companion on American culture, his career was also affected by controversy when Minnesota Public Radio severed ties in 2017 following allegations about his conduct.

Personal life

He has been married three times, first to Mary Guntzel, then to Ulla Skaerved, a Danish filmmaker, and since 1995 to Jenny Lind Nilsson, a violinist. He has a daughter from his first marriage and two children with his current wife. A longtime resident of Saint Paul, Minnesota, he has also maintained a home in New York City and spent significant time in Copenhagen and Denmark. An active supporter of Democratic political causes, he has performed at benefits for politicians like Paul Wellstone and Al Franken. Category:American radio personalities Category:American humorists Category:Writers from Minnesota