Garrison Keillor reveals retirement date

Garrison Keillor says in a new interview that he plans to retire in the spring of 2013.

The host of public radio's A Prairie Home Companion gave the retirement date an interview for the AARP Bulletin's online books column released Wednesday. But the 68-year-old says he has to find his replacement first.

Keillor says he's pushing forward  but also is in denial about retirement. In an email to The Associated Press, Keillor says he'll be 70 in the spring of 2013 "and that seems like a nice round number."

Keillor suffered a minor stroke in 2009 but was back on air three weeks later. He created the show in 1974. It's now broadcast on nearly 600 public radio stations and heard by more than 4 million people each week.