That Time of Year

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With warmth and humor, the creator and host of A Prairie Home Companion shares his remarkable life story. He reflects on growing up as a Brethren boy in a small Mississippi town during the 1950s, where the early loss of three friends led him to pursue comedy and radio. Through a series of fortunate breaks, he founded A Prairie Home Companion, which aired for forty-two years and reached millions of listeners each Saturday at 5 p.m. Central. His journey included memorable moments like singing with Emmylou Harris and Renée Fleming, performing for the U.S. Supreme Court, and portraying various characters, including a private eye and a cowboy. He reported news from his fictional hometown, Lake Wobegon, and connected with Somali cabdrivers who learned English through his show. Alongside his radio success, he authored bestselling novels, won a Grammy and a National Humanities Medal, and collaborated with Robert Altman on a film that featured significant improvisation. He reflects on his life with gratitude, noting, “I was unemployable and managed to invent work for myself that I loved all my life, and on top of that I married well. That’s the secret, work and love.” As he approaches eighty, he continues to rise early to write each day.