Garrison Keillor

In 1969, Garrison Keillor hosted a radio program on Minnesota Public Radio, which he later transformed into the weekly live variety program called "A Prairie Home Companion." The program features celebrity guests, skits, songs, and fake commercials. Though the radio personality and writer is best known for his work on his radio variety show, he is also known for his books and work for The New Yorker.

A popular part of "A Prairie Home Companion" is Keillor's weekly monologue set in the quiet, fictional Minnesota town of Lake Wobegon, "where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average." With its offbeat mix of humor, heart, and song, the radio show has developed a substantial following with more than 4 million people a week tuning in. Keillor also turned the show into a major motion picture directed by the late, legendary Robert Altman. In addition to writing the screenplay, he appeared in the film alongside the likes of Meryl Streep, Lindsay Lohan, and Kevin Kline. Keillor hosted "A Prairie Home Companion" for over 40 years before moving on to other projects including "The Writers Almanac."

Keillor is a prolific author with more than two dozen books of fiction and poetry published, including "Happy To Be Here," "Lake Wobegon Days," "Leaving Home," "We Are Still Married," "WLT: A Radio Romance," "Pontoon: A Lake Wobegon Novel," and the children's book "Daddy's Girl." His written works have earned him several accolades including Grammy, ACE, and Peabody awards, as well as the National Humanities Medal and election to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. His presentations captivate audiences and inspire them with lasting insights.