New 'Prairie Home' host Thile lines up musical guests

Jack White and Chris Thile
Jack White will appear on season opener of A Prairie Home Companion, Chris Thile's first as host of the venerable program.
Courtesy of the artist / Nate Ryan

The new host of "A Prairie Home Companion" has lined up musician Jack White and bassist Esperanza Spalding as among his first musical guests.

Mandolin ace Chris Thile takes over next month as host of the popular public radio variety show.

Thile debuts as "Prairie Home" host Oct. 15 at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, with White and Lake Street Dive as musical guests.

Other guests include Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats with humorist John Hodgman on Oct. 22, and Spalding and comedian Aparna Nancherla on Oct. 29.

The 35-year-old Thile tells The Associated Press that he wants a show of such quality "that it becomes generation- and demographic-less."

Creator Garrison Keillor stepped down as "Prairie Home" host this summer.

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