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Meeting Garrison Keillor, the host of Public Radio International’s “A Prairie Home Companion,” was a dream come true for Greensboro’s Lee Atkinson.

“He’s such an iconic person. But in real life, he’s a down-to-earth guy,” Atkinson says.

Atkinson, and her daughter Sarah Atkinson, walked away with second place and a cash prize of $1,000 from the Great American Duet Sing-off on Saturday night’s show broadcast live from Town Hall in New York City.

“We were impressed ... with the quality of the talent,” Atkinson says of the five other competing duets.

But listeners from across the country who voted on the show’s Web site obviously liked the Atkinsons’ a capella performances enough to elevate them to second place. Their first number was “That I Should Know Your Face,” a ballad by Greensboro folk singer Laurelyn Dossett. Later in the show, the pair performed “Hard Times Come Again Once More.”

“We were not nervous at all. They just made us feel right at home,” Atkinson says of the show’s cast and crew.

Lee and Sarah Atkinson rehearsed with the cast for two days and then got to watch the entire show with the other contestants from just off stage.

“Garrison (Keillor) was just amazing,” Atkinson says. “He just writes everything right there on stage.”

After the show, the contestants were invited to Keillor’s Upper West Side apartment to mingle.

“He greeted us at the door in his red socks,” Atkinson laughs.

Keillor is known for his ever-present red shoes.

Atkinson says she and her daughter and the other competitors sat around with Keillor and harmonized folk tunes and hymns until midnight.

“We didn’t want it to end.” 

Contact Carl Wilson at 373-7145 or cwilson@news-record.com