On the morning of September 8, 2025, millions of Howard Stern fans tuned in to SiriusXM, bracing themselves for what had been hyped as a major announcement. Instead, they found themselves at the center of a masterfully orchestrated prank—one that not only duped listeners but also sent shockwaves through the media landscape, prompting a flurry of erroneous news alerts and social media speculation before the truth was finally revealed live on air.
It all began at 7 a.m. Eastern Time, the precise hour Stern was slated to return from his summer hiatus. Instead of Stern’s familiar voice, Andy Cohen—Bravo’s ever-energetic host—took the mic, introducing himself from Stern’s seat and solemnly declaring that SiriusXM and Stern had “parted ways.” Cohen teased a new “Andy 100” channel, quipping that he couldn’t possibly fill Stern’s shoes. The bit, amplified by The Howard Stern Show’s social media accounts, was so convincing that even seasoned news outlets fell for it. CNBC broadcasted the handoff as fact, with a chyron reading, “Howard Stern parts ways with SiriusXM.” The Associated Press published an alert announcing Stern’s departure, a story that ricocheted across partner sites from WTOP to the New Haven Register before being hastily retracted with multiple “STORY REMOVED” notices.
Minutes later, Stern himself joined longtime co-host Robin Quivers on air to reveal the truth: it was all a joke. “Zero truth” existed to rumors he’d been fired or replaced, Stern told his audience, adding that he remained “very happy” at SiriusXM. He thanked Cohen for playing along and poked fun at the media’s “hair-trigger reflex” to treat viral posts as gospel. “I was just getting so f—ing annoyed with everyone writing me, asking me if I was OK because I’d been fired,” Stern said, according to CNBC. The prank, he explained, was his way of leaning into the wild speculation that had swirled during his absence.
The hoax was not entirely out of character for Stern, who over his four-decade career has built a reputation for blurring the lines between reality and performance. But this particular stunt struck a nerve, coming as it did after weeks of rumors about the future of Stern’s $500 million contract with SiriusXM. Stern had postponed his return to the airwaves the previous week, fueling speculation that contract talks had broken down or that he was being pushed out for being “too woke”—a charge Stern himself dismissed on air, saying, “I still don’t know what ‘woke’ means,” and speculating that he’d earned the label for supporting LGBTQ rights.
According to Variety, Stern revealed that he’d planned to address the rumors about his show’s cancellation on September 2, but a bout of illness delayed his return until September 8. The rumors, he said, had reached fever pitch over the summer, with even his own team receiving calls about fabricated reports—like the bizarre claim that his co-host Robin Quivers had died. “One of the positive things” about all the “fake news,” Stern joked, was hearing from other companies interested in picking up his show.
Stern was effusive in his praise for SiriusXM and its CEO Jennifer Witz. “I’m very happy at Sirius,” he said. “Here’s the truth: SiriusXM and my team have been talking about how we go forward in the future. They’ve approached me, they’ve sat down with me like they normally do and they’re fantastic. We’ve been talking.” Despite the drama, Stern did not announce a new contract; his current deal runs through the end of 2025. SiriusXM executives, for their part, have expressed optimism about a renewal. “I think he’s been core to our platform for over 20 years, so I’m confident we’ll get to the right place,” Witz said at an investment conference on September 3.
Stern’s relationship with SiriusXM is a story of mutual transformation. When he joined what was then Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. in 2006, it was a game-changer for both the company and the industry. His blockbuster, multimillion-dollar contract helped propel satellite radio into the mainstream, and Stern became one of the highest-paid personalities in broadcasting. His importance to the company is underscored by the prominent “Howard” tab on SiriusXM’s homepage, alongside Music, Talk & Podcasts, and Sports.
But the satellite radio business is facing headwinds. SiriusXM reported 33 million paid subscribers in the second quarter of 2025—a net loss of 68,000 from the first quarter and 100,000 fewer than the same period in 2024. The company is battling a saturated market and fierce competition from free, ad-supported platforms like Spotify. Still, SiriusXM remains home to top podcasts and personalities, including Trevor Noah, Kevin Hart, and Stephen A. Smith, and executives have repeatedly emphasized Stern’s irreplaceable role. “Nobody will ever replace them. We would never try to replace them,” SiriusXM president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein told The Hollywood Reporter in 2024.
Stern’s path to satellite radio was paved with controversy. He rose to national fame in the 1980s during a 20-year stint at WXRK in New York, where “The Howard Stern Show” was syndicated in 60 markets and drew over 20 million listeners at its peak. His move to Sirius was motivated by both a lucrative payday and the promise of freedom from the Federal Communications Commission’s indecency rules—a constant source of friction during his terrestrial radio days. Stern’s on-air antics were often headline-grabbing, from parading strippers through his studio to coaxing celebrities into revealing intimate details. His 1997 film “Private Parts” became a box office hit, offering a raw, humorous look at his rise, and he’s authored several bestselling books and served as a judge on “America’s Got Talent” from 2012 to 2015.
Despite his reputation as a provocateur, Stern has evolved into a respected interviewer, drawing newsworthy, intimate conversations from the likes of Lady Gaga and Bruce Springsteen. His loyal team—including Robin Quivers, writer Fred Norris, and producer Gary “Baba Booey” Dell’Abate—has been with him through the ups and downs, lending continuity to a show that’s become a fixture in American pop culture.
Monday’s prank might have ruffled feathers in newsrooms, but it also served as a reminder of Stern’s enduring ability to command attention—and to hold up a mirror to the foibles of modern media. In an age where rumors can become headlines in minutes, Stern’s joke was both a playful jab and a cautionary tale. For SiriusXM and its listeners, it was business as usual by midday, with the “King of All Media” back on his throne, very much in command of his own narrative.
