Howard Stern pranks fans with fake Andy Cohen takeover amid SiriusXM contract rumors

Howard Stern said he's "very happy at Sirius" after Andy Cohen's prank sparked rumors of his show's cancellation.

Howard Stern returned to the airwaves Monday with a prank that briefly had fans believing Andy Cohen had taken over his SiriusXM channel. The stunt played on recent speculation that Stern’s show had been canceled and his contract with the satellite radio giant would not be renewed.

Listeners tuning in early on Sept. 8 were met with a fake introduction by Cohen, who jokingly announced that the channel was being rebranded as “Andy 100.” He claimed he was stepping in due to an unexpected handoff and declared, “I can’t possibly fill Howard’s void.” The gag ended when Stern came on the air, thanking Cohen for playing along with the bit.

Stern addressed the growing rumors surrounding his future at SiriusXM, clarifying that his show had not been canceled and he is still under contract through the end of 2025. “I’m very happy at Sirius,” Stern said during the broadcast, while also praising SiriusXM CEO Jennifer Witz. However, he stopped short of announcing a new deal and a SiriusXM spokesperson declined to comment on the contract status.

 

 

 

 

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The prank followed weeks of speculation, amplified when Stern postponed his return from summer break. He had previously promised to address cancellation rumors on his Sept. 2 show, but delayed the episode due to illness. Stern said he decided to lean into the false reports, turning them into promotional material for his return.

Stern also recounted hearing bizarre rumors over the summer, including a false report that longtime co-host Robin Quivers had died, and another claiming he was fired for being “too woke.” “I still don’t know what ‘woke’ means,” he quipped, noting his public support for LGBTQ+ rights may be the cause of the label.

Stern signed his original deal with Sirius in 2004, debuting his show in 2006. His latest renewal, signed in 2020, was reportedly worth up to $100 million annually. Talks about extending his contract are ongoing, with Witz recently expressing confidence in reaching a new agreement.