Radio host Howard Stern returned to SiriusXM on Monday after staging a prank that briefly convinced listeners he had been replaced.
The 71-year-old broadcaster opened his show with Bravo personality Andy Cohen pretending to take over the channel.
The Stunt
Cohen told listeners Stern wasn’t there, fueling speculation that he had been fired.
“This was supposed to be a cleaner handoff. I’m kind of winging it,” Cohen said on air.
Stern then appeared, revealing it was all a bit and thanking Cohen for playing along.
The gag followed weeks of speculation that Stern’s show was coming to an end.
Reports had suggested his $500 million contract was about to expire without renewal.
Promos teased “Is it really bye-bye Booey?” adding to the frenzy.
Stern Responds
Stern told listeners he missed shows because of illness, not contract disputes.
“I was just getting so f—ing annoyed with everyone writing me, asking if I’d been fired,” he said.
He dismissed rumors that he was let go for being “too woke,” saying there was “zero truth” to the chatter.
SiriusXM executives confirmed they want Stern to stay.
“We’d love for Stern to stay. It certainly has to make sense,” said Scott Greenstein, the company’s president and chief content officer.
CEO Jennifer Witz added that Stern “has been core to our platform for over 20 years.”
Stern said talks with SiriusXM are ongoing and described the company as “fantastic.”
Howard Stern’s Career
Stern joined Sirius in 2006 after leaving traditional radio battles with the FCC behind.
His show helped put satellite radio on the map, drawing millions of subscribers.
At his peak in the 1990s, Stern’s syndicated show reached 20 million listeners in 60 markets.
He has twice renewed his Sirius contract, most recently in 2020 with a five-year, $500 million deal.
