The Howard Stern Show's Most Amazing Moments
Previously published at Daily Stuff and sister sites. Copy includes 79 Howard Stern Show celebrity interview synopses with video links.
The Howard Stern Show was controversial from the get-go. He’s the original shock jock
who rose to prominence insulting famous people on hard-rock FM radio. Howard
Stern’s obnoxious comedy ruled the airwaves at No. 1. In 1986, his show was nationally
syndicated. Thereafter, he dubbed himself the King of All Media. Now he and his
longtime sidekick Robin Quivers are at SirisXM radio, offending people as much as
possible. He’s been called “inappropriate,” “crude,” and “enraging.” He says things
no one wants to repeat. In recent years, he has chilled out some and his format has
evolved into an interview show that is less cringeworthy. Celebs love to guest because
they can talk about anything. His savvy style has coaxed the most amazing stories from
his guests. Here are 79 of those moments.
1. J.J. Abrams
J.J. Abrams shared with the Howard Stern Show the time he had a back brace hidden
under his shirt. He was making the first “Star Wars” prequel. He didn’t mention it to the
crew, but the truth was, he had broken his back trying to save Harrison Ford.
When Abrams witnessed his idol crushed under a hydraulic door, he sprang into action.
He told Stern that the actor’s ankle was wrenched under the door, twisted at a 90-
degree angle. The iconic filmmaker engaged his superhero powers switch and tried to
pry the door open. Instead, he heard a popping sound in his back. Later, the doctor
said he had fractured his L4.
2. Jon Stewart
Howard Stern asked Jon Stewart about making “The Daily Show” amidst moments of
political tensions. He wanted to know if the power Stewart had at that desk had any
effect. Had he been threatened? Stewart replied immediately, “Sure. I was called down
to the white house a couple of times.”
The interview took place in 2020, so the famous political satirist was able to share some
things. He told Stern that the cultural power “The Daily Show” wielded was not real
power. Nothing changed. They didn’t stop the Iraq War, no matter how much influence
the show had over the media, it did not have real power.
https://celebritypage.com/jon-...
3. Quentin Tarantino
“Pulp Fiction” was not Quentin Tarantino’s first film, that would be “Reservoir Dogs.”
But what is more important to know before auditioning is, this director does not like
improvisations. When asked why, he exclaimed, “I’m paying them to say my dialogue,
make no mistake.” He likes to write dialogue, and it is one way his films are so cool.
Tarantino dropped out of school in the ninth grade. He worked at video stores
watching movies all day. And when he was 16, he lied about his age and got a job as
an usher at the Pussycat Theater.
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/quentin-tarantino-explains-his-
approach-to-writing-and-filmmaking/918620608670491/
4. Alanis Morrissette
When Howard Stern hosted Alanis Morrissette in 2015, he absolutely had to know one
thing. Who is the subject of “You Oughta Know?” He also asked her if she gets tired of
singing it. To that she said, no, she loves it. But she refused to answer his burning
question: “I’ll never say who it’s about.”
Stern confirmed with the singer that Dave Navarro and Flea from the Chili Peppers
played guitar on the chart-topper. Yet she stayed strong refusing to name names. She
said, “I believe in artists (and humans) writing and indulging revenge fantasies.” She
thinks it is important because it can pull people out of depression and devastation.
“But I don’t believe in the acting out of revenge,” she added pointedly. And that’s why
she won’t reveal who, exactly, oughta know. In her view, that would be an act of
revenge.
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/alanis-morissette-you-oughta-
know-on-the-howard-stern-show/530136750819702/
5. Conan O’Brien
Howard Stern named Conan O’Brien his “best interview of all time.” The honor came
out in the radio king’s memoir. The interview between the two talk show comedians
traced Conan O’Brien’s rise to fame after graduating from Harvard.
They also talked about depression. Conan opened up and said he had to get
medicated. Comedians are often depressed. O’Brien quit Saturday Night Live because
of his mood. At first, he didn’t want to be medicated, but told Howard that he’s glad
he went that route. Stern asked if he was ever suicidal, but luckily the late-night host’s
depression was not severe.
6. Dan Aykroyd
One of the wild stories Dan Aykroyd relayed to Howard and Robin was the time he was
on track to be ordained as a priest. As a young man, he got into a seminary school in
Quebec only to get kicked out for being a prankster. He said he lied that he wanted to
be a priest to get into the prestigious institution.
The iconic “Ghost Busters” star also got into his friendship with comedic genius John
Belushi. He talked about the tragic last days losing his “Blues Brothers” partner at 33.
Stern, the master interviewer, got Aykroyd to share the craziest times of making movies
and SNL during its classic heyday.
https://www.mixcloud.com/spaceballers/dan-aykroyd-interview-with-howard-stern-02-
17-2015/
7. Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey called in from his Los Angeles home to talk to Howard in 2017. He shared
his first stand-up gig at age 15. It was a disaster. Club runners heckled him, shouting
insults over his act. He didn’t go back to comedy for two years.
Carrey also described his work with Homeboy Industries, a charity organization that
gets ex-cons back into society. Carrey teaches them transcendental meditation via his
Better U Foundation, and he says it is one of the most rewarding things he has ever
done. He led a class of 100 ex-L.A. gang members and joked, “I had one eye opened.”
But his voice trembled with emotion talking about it, about making a difference.
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8. Jerry Seinfeld
Jerry Seinfeld told the Stern Show that success is the enemy of comedy. Getting
comfortable makes people unfunny. He also talked about a hilarious episode of
“Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” with Eddie Murphy.
They talked about how aggravation feeds their comedy. Seinfeld say he’s mean but
also nice. He gets more laughs when he’s kind. He gave an example of it doing stand-
up, “There are no important calls, you know why, because they’re calling YOU.” He
changed it to, “There are no important calls, you know why? First of all, the people you
know, they’re not important.” Shifting the punchline got a laugh.
9. Steve Carell
Working on “The Daily Show” was a terrifying experience for Steve Carell. He came on
the political satire program with no real interest in politics. As a correspondent
reporting to Jon Stewart, he told Howard Stern, he was expected to be an actor and an
improvisor and a journalist, but then, he said, “none of those things.” It was strange
and very stressful.
After four and a half years, it was old hat, but then he left in 2005 to do movies and
Michael Scott in “The Office.”
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/thanks-to-the-great-steve-
carell-for-coming-in-this-morning-go-see-foxcatcher-in/274218542701830/
10. Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore’s been on The Howard Stern Show several times. At a 2015 visit, she
opened up with him. He asked her about the time David Crosby took her in as a 14-
year-old. She recently emancipated herself from parents and said she had to live there
for two months. She toured with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and said it was “pretty
wild.”
She ended up there after a hardcore rehab. They forced her to be sober. After a year
and a half, she understood her good fortune. “There was no way I was going to be me
without that year and a half,” she told Howard and Robin. Welling up, the iconic
actress said, “They saved my life.”
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/drew-barrymore-on-being-
emancipated-at-14-and-living-with-david-crosby-2016/752086635257845/
11. Gwyneth Paltrow
Gwyneth Paltrow visited Howard Stern in 2018 and she dished a wild backstory about
dealing with Harvey Weinstein. Before he was outed for his rampant sexual
misconduct, Paltrow had been signed up to do two movies with him. The sexual
predator did not waste any time putting her in a really awkward place. He was trying to
take advantage of her.
Luckily, her boyfriend at the time, Brad Pitt, stood up for her. He went to Weinstein and
said, Paltrow revealed, something to the effect, ‘Do not ever make her feel
uncomfortable again.’
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2018/05/23/gwyneth-paltrow-howard-stern-show-
harvey-weinstein-brad-pitt-goop-sex-issue/
12. Madonna
Howard Stern introduced Madonna reporting that she is one of four top recording
artists in the world. She’s sold 300 million albums, placing her in the same company as
The Beatles and Elvis.
She loves art and the first work she purchased was a Freida Kohlo self-portrait. She told
Howard and Robin about how she lost a few of her favorite paintings. It was when she
was dating Jean-Michel Basquiat. Madonna fell in love with Basquiat. She loved the
street art legend immensely. Unfortunately, his addiction to heroin got in the way and
she left him. He made her give his art back. She regrets it deeply because he painted
over every canvas in black. He died in 1988 from a heroin overdose.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/madonna-on-howard-stern-10-things-
we-learned-61642/
13. Kathy Griffin
Howard Stern talked to Kathy Griffin about one of her craziest antics. She posted a
photo of Donald Trump on Twitter that was graphic. It showed her holding a
decapitated head representing the newly elected president, as if a victim of the
guillotine. People freaked.
It was just a joke, but Hollywood turned its back on Griffin. She lost the New Year’s Eve
gig with Anderson Cooper. “I’m banned for life. I worked there one night a year.” She
went on the no-fly list. It was a bad year. A few friends stayed loyal, like Jim Carrey,
Bette Midler, and Jamie Foxx.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2018/04/03/kathy-griffin-hollywood-friends-she-
kept-jobs-she-lost-and-her-new-stand-act/
14. Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. spoke endearingly of one of the last times he was with Marvel
creator Stan Lee. He said they were shooting “Civil War” and Lee had a cameo as a
UPS driver. His line was, “I have a package for Tony Stank.” It was a funny misread.
But earlier when Lee was delivering the line, he accidentally started to say RDJ’s real
name. RDJ said, “It’s wild. Even the guy who created the character thinks of me in a
moment where he’s talking about the character.”
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2019/10/07/video-robert-downey-jr-life-after-iron-
man-and-martin-scorseses-controversial-comments-about-marvel-movies/
15. Sofia Vergara
Sofia Vergara hates working out. She’s a natural beauty and has never had to in the
past, but now she’s finding herself having to work out often. She says she’s in a bad
mood before she exercises, while she exercises and after she’s in a bad mood thinking
about the next workout.
The Columbian beauty in her trademark accent joked about wishing she had fake
breasts now that her real ones are falling victim to the aging cycle. But Stern could not
stop complimenting her on her natural endowment, a look he characterized as a tall yet
petite frame and voluptuous on top.
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/sofia-vergara-was-surprised-
by-ed-oneills-real-voice-on-modern-family/2517327808359975/
16. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Howard Stern grilled Arnold Schwarzenegger about his high-profile divorce. He’s got a
way of stroking the guest’s ego right after pointing out a huge mistake or failure. With
Schwarzenegger, Stern went on about what a major catastrophe “The Terminator”
dealt his family, but then cooed about how the actor had a perfect record his entire
career, saying the former California Governor and A-lister is probably used to so much
success.
The cheating scandal and getting divorced from Maria Shriver were one of the worst
Hollywood scandals ever. And Stern got the actor to get into the dirty details. He
talked about seeing a therapist with Shriver and said it was nightmare experience.
Schwarzenegger, clearly angry at the shrink, called the clinician, “Full of sh-t.”
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/arnold-schwarzenegger-
originally-wanted-a-different-role-in-the-terminator-2015/762189734210756/
17. Amy Schumer
When Amy Schumer was a young comedian, she shared with Howard and Robin where
she got her start in stand-up comedy. It was in grade school. She said flat out, “I was a
problem child.” Her most common recognition in school was the title for “teacher’s
worst nightmare” and “class clown.” She admitted to being “a huge wise ass” and said
she said she had Saturday detention every single week.
She would blurt out the funniest thing she could think of and heckle her teachers. She
disrespected them on purpose, but only the sociopathic ones.
https://www.dailymotion.com/vi...
18. Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd stopped by the Howard Stern Show in 2015 and he dished a doozey. Rudd
told the story about how he got dubbed “Donny the Dweeb.” It happened after he got
a part-time job as a DJ. He was about 18 and did weddings and bar mitzvahs.
At one gig, he was in a funk and began dancing like a spaz. His boss grabbed the mic
and introduced him as, “Donnie Dweeb.” It stuck. His silly jig became known as “the
dork dance.” Kids would ask him to do it. He also talked about speaking with Stan Lee
about the intricacies of the Antman. (Who’s a dork now?)
19. Bill Maher
Howard Stern and Bill Maher locked horns and engaged in a bitter feud more than 20
years ago. It was during the buildup for the War on Terror after the Trade Center
attack. Maher, provocative as always, made the argument that the terrorists flying the
planes into the Twin Towers were more courageous than the U.S. military.
Stern was not having it. He banned the outrageous HBO political host. Finally, in 2019,
Stern invited Maher back to the radio show and they buried the hatchet.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2019/06/10/bill-maher-back-stern-show-nearly-20-
years-away-trump-weed-howard-video/
20. Jake Gyllenhaal
When Stern had Jake Gyllenhaal on the show, he pressed the actor to talk about doing
a love scene with Jennifer Aniston. Stern knew that Gyllenhaal had a longtime crush on
the “Friends” star.
Gyllenhaal shared what happened in bed with Aniston making “The Good Girl” (2002).
He said it was torture. He revealed that she used the “pillow technique.” She told him
she was going to put a pillow between them. Problem solved.
https://greekcitytimes.com/2021/10/09/jake-gyllenhaal-filming-bedroom-scenes-with-
jennifer-aniston-torture/
21. Stephen Colbert
Howard Stern has a way of getting celebrities to share extremely private stories. When
he hosted Stephen Colbert, just as the Comedy Central talks show host was taking over
the desk at “Late Night with David Letterman,” he opened up about a painful family
tragedy.
His father, a dean of medicine at Yale, and two of Colbert’s older brothers died in a
terrible plane crash. Colbert, the youngest of 11 children, was left traumatized from
losing a father he loved deeply and his brothers. He thinks perhaps the role of keeping
his mom smiling with his humor shaped his dreams of becoming a comedian.
https://www.howardstern.com/sh...
22. William Shatner
Robin and Howard roasted the actor who played “Star Trek’s” Captain Kirk for a full
five minutes before he even entered the studio. Stern demanded to know why
everyone he works with hates him. He played a clip of George Takei dissing his former
castmate at a previous Stern show. But Shatner brushed it off, claiming nothing the
“Sulu” actor said is true.
Stern worked hard to dig up old unflattering stories. He pressed Shatner about how
much he lost in his first divorce settlement and that the proud man lived in his truck
after “Star Trek” went off the air in 1969.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2013/10/15/william-shatner-ponders-the-mystery-
rundowngallerymodel-21005/
23. Russell Brand
Stern kicked off the interview with Russell Brand asking about the time he took
homeless people into his lavish estate. Russell found it funny because, really, he was
hosting his manager, who happened to be without a home at the time.
Brand said, “I am an egomaniac and a total narcissist,” so he tries to move toward his
caring side by doing kind things. Once, Brand told Howard and Robin, he really did
take in a homeless person. Partly because he wanted to prove that people are people,
only lacking a home makes someone homeless. And partly because he was on drugs.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2014/10/15/russell-brands-spiritual-quest-
rundowngallerymodel-21873/
24. Lenny Kravitz
Rock ‘n’ roll is dead. Lenny Kravitz and Howard discuss the shocking revelation. This
was about seven years ago, and Kravitz suggested rock might have some life yet
lingering, but admitted, “It’s in ICU.”
Back when the heart of rock and roll was still thumping, Kravitz said he called Madonna
and told her he has her next No. 1 song. She listened to “Justify my Love,” and
recorded it immediately. It was banned on MTV for being too sexy, so Madonna
brilliantly sold videos of it at all the major record stores. It was Kravitz’ first No. 1 hit.
25. Gavin Rossdale
This interview took place before Gavin Rossdale’s life imploded. Before Gwen Stefani
uncovered the years-long affair he was having with the nanny.
Instead, in 2014, he gushed about meeting Gwen when her band No Doubt was
opening for his. As the frontman for Bush, all he could see was Stefani, despite
thousands of his cheering fans right there. Rossdale said it was love at first sight. He
called it magic.
Stern brought up the death of rock and roll again. Rossdale agreed, saying it could not
be in a darker shadow. Yet, he said it’s never really dead because the next album could
revive it.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2014/09/09/gavin-rossdale-rundowngallerymodel-
21795/
26. Lady Gaga
The first time Lady Gaga visited the Howard Stern Show was in 2011. She let him in on
a lot of the meanings behind her songs. She sang “Edge of Glory” and said that it’s
about her grandfather but also about knowing that we may not reach glory until after
we are dead.
She says, “So, live life on the edge, halfway between heaven and hell, and let’s all
dance in the middle of purgatory.” She opened up about dark days using cocaine
alone in her apartment. Warning fans, don’t go near it, it’s “the devil.”
https://ew.com/article/2011/07...
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/lady-gaga-the-edge-of-glory-
on-the-stern-show-2011/3356151284428432/
27. Whoopi Goldberg
Talking to the Howard Stern Show in 2019, Whoopi emphasized, again and again, how
great it is to have a gig like “The View.” It’s a great day job with a major network. He
complimented her on her Oscar-winning performance of the past, commended her for
“The Color Purple” and “Ghost.” She has the honor of the rare EGOT, after all.
Nevertheless, he pressed her, wondering why she doesn’t do high-caliber work like
that anymore. She told him that she would, but no one is knocking. But when Stern
asked about the drama with Rosie O’Donnell. She only said infighting is just for
publicity. ABC likes the publicity.
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/whoopi-goldberg-on-moms-
mabley-being-the-very-first-stand-up-comedian/780021602910426/
28. Rosie O’Donnell
Howard Stern went on “The View” and said Rosie O’Donnell was one of his best
interviews ever, saying a friendship developed between them. The panel was not
impressed. They did not say it, but they appeared happy that Rosie left the daytime
show.
Stern asked if O’Donnell would return to “The View.” She said no. There was too much
bad blood between Whoopi and Rosie. “She was mean to me on live TV,” Rosie told
Howard.
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/why-rosie-odonnell-doesnt-
want-to-return-to-the-view/2690626504597026/
29. Jonah Hill
Martin Scorsese is the best director Jonah Hill has ever worked with. He’s also fond of
working with Quentin Tarantino and The Cohen Brothers, but for Hill, Scorsese is the
king of all directing.
Hill went to Scorsese’s house and asked for advice. Sitting with Howard Stern in 2018,
Hill talked about how his idol spent four hours with him, helping him solve all the
directorial issues in his latest project. Another reason working with Scorsese is so great
according to Hill, is that the iconic director is genuinely interested in how actors are
going to play their parts in his films.
https://m.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/jonah-hill-got-directing-advice-
from-martin-scorsese/1200568163791012/?depth=2
30. Paul McCartney
Talking to Howard, Paul McCartney agreed that The Beatles were better than The
Rolling Stones. Stern, of course, pushed McCartney to agree with the opinion, but he
had lots to say about the two British rock legends.
McCartney said that The Stones imitated The Beatles. For instance, he said, when The
Beatles debuted in America, the Stones announced their U.S. tour soon after. Stern
pointed out the Rolling Stone cover that looked very reminiscent of The Beatles’
“Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album cover.
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paul-mccartney-howard-stern-
interview-beatles-better-than-stones-984210/
31. Michael J. Fox
Visiting the Howard Stern Show in 2013, Michael J. Fox opened up for one of the first
times about how it was dealing with the blow of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s
disease.
The first thing he did as a 29-year-old to cope was hit the bottle. Alone, scared, and
depressed he drank every day. After two years he got help and said it was the best
thing he could do. He was getting work again and his marriage “got great.” He and
Tracy Pollan have four children together.
https://www.eonline.com/news/463434/michael-j-fox-reveals-he-started-drinking-
heavily-after-parkinson-s-diagnosis
32. Adam West
Knowing Howard Stern is a big Batman fan, Adam West, the Adam West, the actor
who played Batman on the original television series, brought a big surprise into the
studio. Unveiling it and handing it to the host in 1994, West revealed that it is the
original cowl Batman wore nearly 30 years ago.
The classic Batman mask headcover from the ‘60s TV show is worth hundreds of
thousands of dollars. And West handed it to Stern to try it on.
33. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
He collects a $100,000 just for showing up to a couple events over the weekend. Floyd
Mayweather Jr. visited Howard and Robin in 2013. He’s amassed a massive fortune
beating people up, but the host wanted to know more. What does it feel like to
pummel another person?
Mayweather said, “I’m in the hurt business.” That’s what he does. He also talked about
his brutal childhood. His father was a boxer too, but he held the younger fighter to a
rigid workout routine. The world champion fighter has broken every boxing record.
http://onsmash.com/sports/floy...
34. Ozzy Osbourne
While Ozzy Osbourne was enjoying his longest sobriety, a run that lasted nearly four
years, he dropped by the studio for an interview with the King of All Media. He had
some good news to share. Ozzy finally got his driver’s license.
It wasn’t for lack of trying. He took the driver’s test 19 times. He flunked it once by
falling asleep at the wheel. Another time the rocker legend was booted for showing up
high (what? he was nervous)! One DMV agent flatly refused to get in the car with the
Prince of Darkness. But after years of driving illegally, in 2009 he passed.
35. Courtney Love
She does “insane yoga” and hangs with Madonna. Courtney Love came into the studio
on a good day. It was 1998 and she was in a good place, doing yoga, juicing, being a
mom, and sober.
She says one of her best friends is Drew Barrymore, who is the godmother of daughter
Frances. She likes getting a chance to hang out with Madonna because she totally
understands her Hollywood rejection issues. Madonna tells her things like, “Baby,
when they write the book on the 20th century, there’s going to be two chapters—you,
and me.”
36. Bob Odenkirk
“Better Call Saul” actor Bob Odenkirk shared with Stern the fact that he went bankrupt
just before landing the “Breaking Bad” character. He said he got a phone call from his
business manager saying he needed to sign for a loan. He had no idea what was going
on and learned that the loan, which was for $900,000, was to keep him afloat after
running out of money.
It was a huge break to get the role as the corrupt lawyer on “Breaking Bad.” At the
time, he had not heard of the show, but Odenkirk was not about to be picky about it.
37. Donald Trump
Howard Stern has hosted Donald Trump many times. He first appeared in 1996, back in
Trump’s golden days, at the peak of his wealth. He visited often, the last time being
shortly before the 2020 election. Trump asked for Stern’s endorsement, but the radio
man said no. He hasn’t heard from him since.
He loved having Trump on. The conversations were always provocative and sometimes
creepy. Once, Trump described his privilege of being able to go backstage to look at
his Miss America pageant contestants. “I see these incredible looking women [half-
dressed],” he said, bragging he “gets away” with it. Some sued.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2016/10/08/donald-trump-howard-stern-show-
women.cnn
38. Snoop Dogg
In studio with the Stern Show in 2018, Snoop Dogg dropped an amazing real-life story.
In high school, he was a top athlete in football and basketball. He probably would have
nabbed a scholarship for college, but he joined a gang, got caught selling drugs, and
was thrown in jail.
While he was in jail, he discovered his calling. In prison, he would compete in rap
contests, two dudes rap and other inmates make the call. When he was released, he
met up with hip-hop artist Warren G who played Snoop’s first mixtape for Dr. Dre at a
bachelor party. Dre was impressed.
39. Rodney Dangerfield
As a young comic, Rodney Dangerfield was so poor, he had a full-time job in aluminum
siding in New Jersey while doing showbiz on the side. One gig was “The Ed Sullivan
Show.
” His customers all asked if that was him on TV. He had lots of stories to tell and
a book to promote. His parents were terrible.
Dangerfield’s legendary. “Caddyshack” is classic. He is one of the most respected
comedians in comedy, despite getting famous with the line, “I get no respect.” The
2004 show was one of his last appearances, he died that year.
https://www.facebook.com/HowardSternShowClassic/videos/howard-stern-show-
classic-rodney-dangerfield/537725550097374/
40. Cardi B
Cardi B danced in a club before she reigned over the music charts. She told Stern
about her streetwise beginnings and feeling ashamed, until she raked in $500 and
more a night. She felt better about it but had to lie and tell her parents she was
babysitting for really rich white people.
Stern wanted to know how she felt knocking Taylor Swift out of the No. 1 spot. But
Cardi said her eye was only on the top of the chart, it wasn’t about her competition.
She expressed love and respect for Beyonce and Rhianna, and she talked about
marrying Offset. The interview is from 2018.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2018/05/09/cardi-b-covers-her-career-her-
pregnancy-and-why-she-wants-wait-her-wedding-rapper-offset/
41. Samuel L. Jackson
Sharing his love of golf, Samuel L. Jackson confirmed his contract includes a clause
allowing him three golf days per week on a shoot, plus proximity to a golf club.
The “Pulp Fiction” breakout star who became a phenomenally popular actor, says he is
boring. He doesn’t drink, smoke, or use drugs. This was in 2000. He also revealed that
there is a hole inside his nose left over from a bad cocaine habit. Even more shocking,
a 1990 subway ride found him dragged by the train. His ankle got stuck in the door on
the way out. He needed knee reconstruction surgery.
https://www.facebook.com/HowardSternShowClassic/videos/howard-stern-show-
classic-samuel-l-jackson/1107880732756191/
42. Sacha Baron Cohen
He risked his life to film the climactic moment of “Bruno.” Talking to Howard, Sacha
Baron Cohen dished the backstory to creating the hilarious scene. In the movie, he
introduces himself as “Straight Dave,” reinforcing the image with over-the-top pro-
heterosexual bravado.
“Straight Dave” is a fashion journalist from Austria, but ended up in a wrestling cage
with a crowd of extras made up of 300 recently released ex-cons. So, yes, Cohen, in
character, incited a riot by making out with an old ex-boyfriend who happened to be
his challenger in the crowd. As they hugged and kissed, chairs were flying, angry men
with Nazi tattoos on their foreheads raged. Cohen ditched them by ducking out a
trapdoor to an escape tunnel.
https://www.facebook.com/thehowardsternshow/videos/sacha-baron-cohen-almost-
incited-a-riot-while-filming-bruno-2012/2065309790269952/
43. Gilda Radner
This SNL original was one of the most beloved comedians in the world when she died
tragically at 42. Gilda Radner, the “Roseanna Roseannadanna” creator was praised and
adored by everyone at SNL. So, it was heartbreaking when she left The Howard Stern
Show in tears.
In 1983, Radner agreed to an appearance, only to be berated by the uncouth host
about her private life. Callers and Stern would not stop asking her who she has slept
with. Finally, during a commercial break, the legendary comic left the studio. Stern was
baffled saying, “Maybe we’re so dehumanized we don’t realize we’re obnoxious.”
;t=26s
44. Steve Martin
Steve Martin’s first job was at Disneyland, a brand-new park that was only a bike ride
away. Doing magic tricks was his first act when he was fifteen. He performed at his
parents’ bridge parties or wherever he could get an audience. He wanted to entertain
people ever since he could remember.
Martin is a comedic genius, but he talked somberly about quitting stand-up comedy.
He was burned out, falling ill with heart trouble, and hospitalized for sinus issues. He
struggled to write a joke. Suffering in private, he never mentioned it but simply moved
onto movies and other gigs.
45. Charlie Sheen
Stern tried his darndest to get Charlie Sheen to talk about his love life, but, ironically,
the actor seemed shocked, or at least overwhelmed by the explicit nature of the radio
host’s questioning.
He told a wild story about why he stopped carrying a gun. Once, he left a small
revolver in his jeans pocket on the bathroom floor. When his girlfriend, Kelly Preston,
went to use the scale, she moved his jeans and the gun fell out, shot a hole in the
toilet, and grazed her leg. It made him question why he would have guns around.
https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/03/audio-charlie-sheen-tells-howard-stern-
about-life-with-goddesses-its-not-just/
46. Bree Olson
Bree Olson shared her frustration of being brutally betrayed by Charlie Sheen. She
came by the Howard Stern Show, and it seemed like the wound was still fresh. It was in
2015. Sheen’s life was spiraling in spin cycle when she talked to Stern about how he
hurt her. She said Sheen lied about being clean.
She also opened up about Sheen’s anger issues. She felt frightened by his violent
ideations when she was living with him.
47. Metallica
Howard anticipated this band’s visit for months. Finally, they came into the studio,
bringing the entire band and a roomful of instruments. It was the day after playing SNL
and Metallica just released their new movie.
They got into the criticism about selling out. Metal fans freaked when Metallica used
acoustic guitars the first time, but James decided to keep them in. The band played
background riffs during the interview. Howard said it gave him chills. Plus, they played
live, kicking the set off with “One.” A headbanger’s dream show.
48. Tracy Morgan
Doctors gave Tracy Morgan a 2 percent chance of living after being in a massive six-car
accident. In 2014 on the New Jersey turnpike, a Walmart truck driver crashed into the
van he was in. His friend and mentor, comedian James McNair, was in that van too. He
didn’t survive. Morgan found out after being in the hospital for two weeks.
He told Stern, “God gave me a second chance.” The actor sued Walmart, looking for
justice, but said there is no way to compensate that level of trauma and loss.
https://blog.siriusxm.com/tracy-morgan-talks-surviving-his-car-crash-and-seeking-
justice-god-gave-me-a-second-chance/
49. Rachel Maddow
MSNBC’s liberal queen Rachel Maddow surprised Stern about a friendship she had
with Roger Ailes, a former CEO for Fox News. Ailes had recently passed at the time of
this interview, so Maddow had a chance to tell her background with him.
She asked him for advice once and she characterized him as “gracious” and
“constructive.” Ailes told Maddow he wanted to hire her. He said he’d pay her a full
contract, keeping her from working anywhere else, but never allow her to go on the air.
https://blog.siriusxm.com/rachel-maddow-on-the-howard-stern-show-roger-ailes-told-
me-he-wanted-to-hire-me-at-fox/
50. Gwen Stefani
The “No Doubt” singer shared her rollercoaster love story. She talked about the pain
Gavin Rossdale, father to her three sons, caused her. The divorce left her deeply
depressed but then she started making music again.
Meeting Blake Shelton felt like fate. They both were at “The Voice,” and they had both
gone through a divorce recently. They were great friends and they fell in love bonding
over their destiny. She put out an album called “This is What Truth Feels Like,” about
her experience. They married soon after this interview.
https://blog.siriusxm.com/gwen...
51. Steve Miller
Not long after Steve Miller was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he
stopped by the studio. He told stories from the ‘60s. It was 1969, the summer of love
and first Woodstock rock festival, and Miller got the chance to jam with The Beatles.
The Beatles and Steve Miller were recording albums in the Olympic Studio in London.
He watched them make music in awe. He was honored when George Harrison invited
him to stay at his place saying, “Hi Steve, I’ve listened to all your stuff. Children of the
Future, Sailor, they’re such great records.”
https://blog.siriusxm.com/steve-miller-on-jamming-with-the-beatles-it-was-like-we-had-
known-each-other-all-our-lives/
52. Sheryl Crow
Remembering Prince, Sheryl Crow is yet humbled remembering when the iconic music
maker called her up to say he really likes her song, “Every Day Is a Winding Road.” He
even covered it.
She also discussed that in the early 2000s, there was a moment she almost joined
Fleetwood Mac. She said she wished it would have worked out, but Lindsey
Buckingham was not for it, and she felt right away she just forget it.
53. Roseanne Barr
Roseanne has stopped by several times. This time, she talked about making 20 cents
for every dollar that her classic sitcom “Roseanne” makes on DVD. She said she’s
getting into Kabbalah, out of fear of going to hell, and commented about her endless
battle with weight.
Talking about living in luxury, Roseanne said she is happiest with ‘just’ a 6,000-square-
foot home. And she thinks of those who don’t have homes. Suggesting people should
give a third of their money for charity. She complained that she sees people living in
trash cans while others live in mansions.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2007/03/12/leaving-the-past-behind-
rundowngallerymodel-10334/
54. Jennifer Lawrence
Addressing her famous moment tripping up the Academy stairs, Jennifer Lawrence
said, “I would give anything to be able to go back and redo that moment.” Holding
her Best Actress Oscar, she was so flustered she failed to thank several key people in
“Silver Linings Playbook.” She had a whole speech but ended up randomly thanking
and then “stumbling off” to her seat.
Then she told Howard she’s getting a reputation for being clumsy. She broke a heel in
England and tripped on a traffic cone a year after the Oscars. She thinks she is so
overwhelmed and constantly thinking that she’s not paying attention.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2018/02/28/jennifer-lawrences-stern-show-debut-
falling-love-falling-oscars-what-went-down-ellen-degeneress-birthday-party/
55. Kendrick Lamar
If you ask him, Kendrick Lamar will tell you he is one of the greatest rappers alive. But
he felt like he was just a kid from Compton when he got to go to Prince’s Paisley Park
mansion and meet him. The next thing he knew, Prince is inviting him on stage with
him. He said it was a surreal moment performing with one of his greatest idols.
He had flown out to Prince’s place hoping to collaborate on a song for his next album,
but getting to go up on stage with Prince, made him forget all about making the song.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2017/12/12/kendrick-lamar-reflects-if-hes-
greatest-rapper-alive-almost-recording-prince-and-his-extraterrestrial-experience/
56. Bono and The Edge
Bono said he hates listening to his voice and so he never listened to “The Joshua Tree”
once it was recorded. The sound of his voice is “excruciating” to hear, plus the songs
affect him emotionally.
The Edge gave the King of all Media a nice treat. He demonstrated the iconic opening
to “Where the Streets Have No Name” in the studio, then shared how he put the song
together. He said he first came up with a set of chords and built tune from there.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2017/12/04/u2s-bono-and-edge-creating-their-
hits-hanging-springsteen-and-mccartney-and-only-fight-theyve-ever-had/
57. Robert Plant
Led Zeppelin is rock’s most dominant group. The band of British rockers were so great
in their day, Elvis Presley asked to hook up with them. The King wanted to hang out
with the band because he knew what a sensation they were and wanted to understand
the buzz.
Robert Plant said that they hung out with Elvis at a soiree in his penthouse hotel room
talking about music for hours. Plant noted that Elvis’ presence was indescribable when
he walked into the room. “He just grooved his way through the people,” is how he put
it.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2017/10/17/robert-plant-talks-losing-john-
bonham-meeting-elvis-presley-and-prank-led-zeppelin-once-pulled-who/
58. Charlize Theron
In 2020, Charlize Theron talked about being single and having no desire to marry.
She’s never felt lonely. She had no regrets breaking up with Sean Penn. She is a tough
nut.
If she doesn’t have a hardcore training regime to commit to for a movie, she’s not
happy. She was nearly paralyzed shooting her first movie, And in “Old Guard” an injury
ripped the ligament in her thumb from the bone.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2020/06/22/charlize-theron-shooting-death-
defying-stunts-learning-talk-megyn-kelly-and-why-she-wouldnt-want-live-forever/
https://www.instagram.com/tv/C...
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59. David Letterman
When David Letterman and the King of All Media spent an hour and a half together,
old time stories came out. At one point, Stern asked about the time Letterman invited
comic Don Rickles and himself onto the Letterman show. Letterman said that the idea
of those two together was too much fun to pass up.
Ironically, Stern hated it. Rickles is known as the insult comedian, and the radio disc
jockey found it sucks to be on the wrong side of Rickles’ jokes. He totally idolized the
insult master but told Letterman that he’s only hilarious if he’s targeting anyone else.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2017/08/16/david-letterman-howard-stern-
together-again-all-highlights-interview-audio/
60. Ashton Kutcher
A lot of people know that Ashton Kutcher met his wife Mila Kunis when she was 14 on
the set of “That ‘70s Show.” Back then, it was more like a big-brother, little-sister
relationship. Kutcher helped her with homework.
Stern talked to Kutcher about something most people would not know about him. He
is astute in the world of finance. He helped fund Uber as a startup, so he’s made a
killing there. He also admitted to raking in $700,000 per episode replacing Charlie
Sheen on “Two and a Half Men,
” saying, “It was a very, very, very nice payday.”
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2017/06/21/ashton-kutcher-gives-howard-his-
side-story-how-he-and-mila-kunis-became-more-just-friends/
61. Kevin Hart
Kevin Hart’s mother was the strong one and raised him right. But when she died of
cancer in 2007, it was devastating. She didn’t get to see his success. On the upside, his
dad is sober. Hart bought his father a house and put him through rehab. When he was
young, his father wasn’t around. Hart always sees the positive side of any negative
situation.
He also talked about all the top comedians who showed him the way. Keith Robinson
was his mentor, but he would sit around and here the greats like Chris Rock, Jerry
Seinfeld, Ray Romano, and Colin Quinn.
https://blog.siriusxm.com/kevin-hart-opens-up-about-his-father-on-the-howard-stern-
show/
62. The Ramones
They started punk rock, they said, but didn’t get credit. It’s a little tongue-in-cheek
because The Ramones are absolute legend in rock and roll lore. They defined punk as
being about the things that matter, “Passion, heart and soul,” not anger.
Visiting in 1996, Joey and Marky Ramone announced to the Stern Show their
retirement. Marky said he did not want to split up the band, but that Joey and John
did. The backstory was Johnny’s political views veered too much to the right. Oh, and
Johnny stole Joey’s girlfriend. Joey’s final assessment of the split: “It’s kind of a
personal satisfaction.”
;list=PLauTiXO-
LQt3LvxjpOJDgI8RPoiu9N8ml&index=23
63. Jamie Foxx
If you didn’t take Quentin Tarantino seriously about how he pays actors to say his lines,
and his lines only, here’s Jamie Foxx to prove it.
In a hilarious interview with the King of All Media, Foxx gives examples of working with
Tarantino, plus a brilliant impersonation of the director. Foxx said that working on
“Django Unchained,” he dealt with “a tyrant.” The vibe was, ‘Do not [freak] my film
up!’ The first time Foxx delivered his lines, Tarantino walked in, closed the door, and
laid into the actor. It totally helped and Foxx said he would work with the tyrant, “a
thousand times” more.
64. Ed Sheeran
Sitting down at the radio show with an acoustic guitar on his lap, Ed Sheeran covered
Coldplay and 50 Cent, but Sheeran also talked about writing one of Justin Bieber’s
biggest hits, “Love Yourself.” He talked about writing songs and sharing them with
other artists. He developed a close phone call friendship with Elton John, which grew
into frequent FaceTime calls.
He talked about getting a Best Song Grammy after being nominated 13 times before.
He flew his parents out each time. Before he was big, he was taken in by Jamie Foxx
after doing a gig at the Foxxhole on SirisXM and recorded some of his first music.
https://soundcloud.com/howards...
https://www.howardstern.com/news/2021/11/05/ed-sheeran-says-good-riddance-to-
bad-habits-before-performing-live-on-the-stern-show/
65. Sarah Jessica Parker
This is wild. Sarah Jessica Parker got fired from “Antz” (1998). She said they got rid of
her because she was a “bad ant.” In the animated film, SJP was going to voice Princess
Bala. She found out later the part went to Sharon Stone.
SJP was also axed from another animated film in which she was supposed to voice a
cow. The interview took place in 2017 and she also discussed how difficult it was
dealing with behind-the-scenes “Sex and the City” rumors because SJP said they loved
and supported each other very much.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2016/10/18/sarah-jessica-parker-movie-role-
changed-everything-her/
66. Billie Eilish and Finneas
The success of “Bad Guy” surprised everyone in Billie Eilish’s camp. One of her biggest
supporters, her mom, didn’t expect the song to get what it deserved, and neither did
Jimmy Fallon who felt it was great right away.
Billie and her brother, songwriter Finneas, played a moving performance of “When the
Party’s Over.” The pair who took five Grammys home in one night, also made up a
song on the spot. Howard picked an idea, and with Finneas on keyboard and Billie
improvising some lyrics about sleep paralysis, they said that’s how they do it.
67. Roger Daltrey
Daltrey talked about his contentious relationship with Townsend. Townsend wrote
songs and played guitar while Daltrey only sang. The dueling egos exploded in a fight
on stage once. Townsend went after Daltrey with a guitar, and Daltrey knocked him out
cold. Crazy time. Drummer Keith Moon was so crazy he was dead by 1978. He once
tried a gorilla tranquilizer and was out cold for 24 hours.
The Who’s definitive song “My Generation” was written by Pete Townsend. Roger
Daltrey had trouble reading his handwriting and stuttered out the lines like, “F-f-f-f-
fade away.” They were making fun of stuttering, but it stayed on the track.
68. Miley Cyrus
The pop star shared her bonding moments with other female musical artists. She is
very close with Joan Jett, and she tattooed a message Yoko Ono sent to her on her
shoulder: “I’m proud of you, Yoko.” Dolly Partner is Cyrus’ godmother.
She’s also tight with Stevie Nicks who calls the younger singer “Smiley Baby.” Cyrus
was really touched when Nicks allowed her to use her song “Edge of Seventeen.” She
says Nicks gave permission to use any of her songs. While in studio she covered
several tunes including Led Zeppelin and Courtney Love’s song “Doll Parts.”
69. Anna Nicole Smith
She said she loves the paparazzi. Her lawyer and companion Benjy was with Anna and
kept Stern at bay with some of his crude questions. She was a bit on the heavy side at
the time, and Howard, whose comedy isn’t above body shaming, struck again. He told
the late sex symbol she was heavyset. She disagreed and he told her to weigh herself.
She talked about waiting for the settlement from her dead ex-husband’s estate. Stern
wanted to know how it was intimately with her 90-year-old husband. Benjy objected,
but she said he was very happy.
https://www.facebook.com/HowardSternShowClassic/videos/howard-stern-interview-
anna-nicole-smith-and-benjy-07-31-02/340251003329592/
70. Eddie Vedder
Eddie Vedder joined Pearl Jam in 1990. He had been discovered by Red Hot Chili
Peppers’ drummer Jack Irons. His connection also found him recording with Chris
Cornell’s Temple of the Dog. They released the single, “Hunger Strike,
” sand in duet.
Cornell was already established in the grunge scene with his band Soundgarden.
Howard asked Pearl Jam’s lead man about the loss of Cornell. Sadly, Vedder said his
suicide in 2017 came on the heels of losing his youngest brother a year earlier. Vedder
said it took concerted effort to not let the double loss drag him into a really dark place.
https://variety.com/2020/music/news/eddie-vedder-howard-stern-interview-pearl-jam-
things-learned-1234821988/
71. Neil Young
Stern asked Neil Young if he’s still irritated about the filming of the movie at
Woodstock. On stage with David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Graham Nash, he was
trying to play music and they were in the way. “I didn’t like the [freaking] cameras.” No
one told him about it ahead of time and he thought it was “stupid.” He made his
objection clear.
So, when the Woodstock movie came out, there is footage of Crosby, Stills, and Nash,
but no Young. He still finds it funny that they had to smudge his name out of the
introduction recording.
https://www.alternativenation....
72. Jay-Z
Jay-Z collects art. He has a couple Andy Warhols; he buys what he likes. Growing up
was tough in some ways, his dad abandoned him, and he says he uses his music and
lyrics as therapy.
As a kid, he stood on the street dealing crack. Once, he was in a car that contained a
large crack supply in the trunk. The cops were waiting for K-9s to sniff it out, but the
dogs were a no-show, and they were free. That was the inspiration for “99 Problems.”
He told Howard you can hear the K-9 reference.
73. Carnie Wilson
She’s a television personality and the other half of Wilson Philips with her sister. Their
father is Brian Wilson from the classic surf band The Beach Boys. But when Carnie
Wilson did the Howard Stern Show, he was cruelly disrespectful. She said, “Howard
Stern made me step on a scale to mock my weight on air.”
The radio program secretly weighed her. The producer told her to step on a spot and
then the numbers 233 came up. She had recently gone through surgery for her weight.
She knew the radio man was going to body shame her, and he did. He said things like,
‘How could anyone marry someone that size?’
https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-body/news/carnie-wilson-i-was-secretly-
weighed-fat-shamed-by-howard-stern/
74. Bradley Cooper
He went to The Actor’s Studio and has won accolades for acting and directing,
including making the Oscar-winning movie “Silver Linings Playbook.” He and Jennifer
Lawrence’s chemistry came out in that film. They work together great, but Cooper
emphasized the point that the two would never be a couple.
When he visited the show, he was promoting “Burnt.” But he also got into it about
being Rocket Racoon in “Guardians of the Galaxy.
” Stern confronted him saying he
heard Cooper would not do Rocket for the second “Guardians of the Galaxy,” but
Cooper said that was untrue.
https://www.howardstern.com/show/2015/10/21/bradley-coopers-professional-life-
noine/
75. Ben Stiller
Talking about projects Ben Stiller had passed up, Stern wanted to know which one
Stiller regrets the most. It was an easy answer. The prolific actor/director replied,
“Good Will Hunting.”
Stiller laughed at himself, recalling how he let his ego get in the way. When he got the
script, he scoffed that the two young actors wanted to play the lead roles. As a
director, he mused, only he gets to do the casting. He made fun of his hypocrisy that
it’s okay for him to get attached to writing, but not Ben Affleck and Matt Damon.
https://theglobalherald.com/entertainment/why-ben-stiller-turned-down-directing-
good-will-hunting/
76. Billy Joel
Lots of artists wanted to make music with him, but Billy Joel is not a collaborator. He
paired up in a rare move with Cyndi Lauper in “Code of Silence,” the only co-writer he
ever worked with. Writing music for the Piano Man legend is difficult. He suffers writing
songs; he loves when it’s completed.
By 2021, he stopped writing lyrics, preferring music in its abstract form. His last album
came out in 1993. Amazingly, he was only 15 when he signed his first contract. He
regrets not being able to see Jimi Hendrix live at Woodstock. The sanitary conditions
were too disgusting, so he left.
77. James Taylor
One of James Taylor’s best moments was being in the studio while The Beatles
recorded “Revolution” and other tunes from The White Album.
One of his worst moments was running into John Lennon’s killer, Mark David
Chapman, outside the subway station. The “Fire and Rain” singer said he was creeped
out by Chapman’s demeanor – babbling, eyes dilated, and crazy-looking. He spoke to
the assassin for a few seconds. He remembered hearing him mumbling something
about “John.” As he returned to his place in the same Dakota building that Lennon
was killed in front of, he heard five shots ringing out.
78. Amy Poehler
“Parks and Recreation” funny lady Amy Poehler joined Howard Stern back in 2014. She
talked about her divorce from Will Arnett. The former SNL comedian also got into her
date with John Stamos.
She did not actually know if it was a date, but the two went out not long after her
marriage went south. Poehler told the self-proclaimed, “King of all Media” that she
could not get over how attractive the “Full House” star is. He had a part in a movie she
was making, and he asked her if she wanted to hang out, but she was never sure if it
was a real date.
https://soundcloud.com/howards...
79. Chris Cornell
Sitting down in the studio with an acoustic guitar on his lap, Chris Cornell described in
2007 how he wrote “Black Hole Sun.” He was driving home in his car at 4 a.m. and the
whole song came to him. He kept it in his head on repeat. When he got home, he
whistled it into a tape recorder, in case he’d forget it. He didn’t need that recording.
It’s one of his biggest hits and he performed it live on the show.
Cornell stopped by again in 2011. He played a beautiful acoustic cover of Led
Zeppelin’s “Thank You.”
Thank you. What a loss.
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