During the promotion of her new memoir, “I Want to Make My Life Count: Your Life is Too Short and Too Precious to Waste,” Kathie Lee Gifford mentioned that she and Howard Stern have resolved their decades-long feud. This revelation has the internet buzzing, with everyone searching to find out what happened between them.
Let’s dive deep into their history and figure out what took place between Kathie Lee Gifford and Howard Stern years ago.
Kathie Lee Gifford and Howard Stern feud explained
The tension between Kathie Lee Gifford and Howard Stern dates back to the 1990s. Howard Stern, known for his controversial and often provocative radio show, The Howard Stern Show, frequently made Kathie Lee the target of his jokes and criticisms.
Per Lee’s memoir, the feud escalated significantly in 1995 when she was selected to sing the national anthem at Super Bowl XXIX. As Lee started singing, she heard booing from the audience. She later learned that Stern had reportedly instructed his listeners to boo her. This surprised her because she had never listened to his show or met him.
In 2012, Howard Stern stopped by Today, where Kathie Lee was a co-host of the fourth hour. He was there to announce that he would be a judge on America’s Got Talent. The studio staff were instructed to keep Lee away from him. However, she recounted that she felt compelled to wish him well. Lee told Fox News Digital, “The Lord… said, ‘Kathie, go down and say hello to him, and wish him well with the show.'” Ignoring the instructions to stay away, Lee went downstairs and introduced herself to Stern.
Lee recalled, “He’s very, very tall, and I was in my little flats coming in from Connecticut. There were so many people that day because he brings quite the entourage… I said, ‘Hey, it’s Kathie Lee.’ I thought it was about time. I said, ‘I want to wish you all the best with the new show.'” She returned to the makeup room, where the staff questioned her decision. Kathie Lee simply replied, “God told me to.”
Later that evening, while Lee was having dinner with her family, she received a phone call with no caller ID. According to her, she instinctively knew it was Stern trying to reach her. “We’re having dinner, and I see the no-caller ID,” she explained. “I said, ‘That’s him.’
Although Lee did not pick up the call, she received a voicemail from Stern stating, “I can’t believe how nice you were to me. I’ve been so rude to you and you were so nice. I just need to apologize to you. Please call me.” In the same interview, she shared that even though they did not connect on that call, they later had a private conversation.
“I said, ‘I’m really happy for you that you’re asking for forgiveness, because anytime we hurt somebody in life, it’s important to ask for forgiveness,'” Lee shared.
She continued, “But I just want you to know that I forgave you 30 years ago.’ He goes, ‘What?’ I said, ‘I forgave you 30 years ago, and I’ve been praying for you every day since. And it’s the truth.’ He goes, ‘Oh my God.’ I said, ‘Would you like to come to dinner sometime?’ He goes, ‘You’d have me at your house?’ I said, ‘Of course.'”
