Fred Pellerin stepped onto the plateau of En direct de l’univers on Saturday, November 14, for an hour of television hosted by France Beaudoin on Radio-Canada.
The evening featured a steady stream of musical tributes reflecting the storyteller’s roots in Saint-Élie-de-Caxton. Richard Séguin performed M’entends-tu? while creator and illustrator Claude Robinson took the stage alongside him to sing Tenir debout, a track describing the legal fight he waged for his copyrights, according to Radio-Canada. The storyteller, an artist and humorist originally from Saint-Élie-de-Caxton, has spent years bringing his village to audiences and building a prominent cultural career with his colorful stories and imagination. His brother, Nicolas Pellerin, is also a musician; the two brothers previously released an album of traditional songs together in 2007 titled Fred et Nicolas Pellerin.
Beyond his television appearances, the artist is preparing to debut his eighth storytelling show, titled Au nom du père, with the first performance scheduled at the Centre des arts de Shawinigan on November 21, where initial dates are already sold out. The new production centers on a particular story surrounding the village priest, exploring what happens upon his death when villagers must decide whether he deserves burial in consecrated ground or beyond the cemetery fence.
Music has long been central to his career; his 2009 solo album Silence achieved gold certification two weeks after its release, followed by platinum status two weeks later. He also once shared the stage with more than 100 choir members from his hometown during a July 2016 performance on the Plains of Abraham at the Festival d’été de Québec.
Actor Gildor Roy, who portrayed the blacksmith in the storyteller’s film projects, delivered a rendition of the classic Hit the Road Jack. Later in the broadcast, friends brought his old pickup truck directly into the studio so artist Bosko Baker could perform With Friends Like These, echoing the music that always plays when he drives the vehicle, reported Radio-Canada.
As Yann Perreau performed T’embellis ma vie, the studio cameras swept toward the audience and focused on Josée Ducharme, the author’s partner, noted Showbizz. Known to loved ones as Josette and working professionally as a camera operator for Radio-Canada, she walked onto the rotating platform to invite him to dance, as Showbizz detailed.
The couple’s relationship began after meeting during television shoots, evolving from an initial acquaintance into friendship and eventually romance, though the artist generally keeps his family life out of the public eye. Among other notable figures connected to his life is his daughter, Marie-Fée Pellerin, who at just 14 years old battled cancer at CHU Sainte-Justine and later pursued nursing studies at the Université de Montréal.
The broadcast concluded with a performance by the Cirque Alfonse, capping off an evening that also featured an appearance by the guest’s brother.
