What did Howard Stern say about knowing Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy? Radio host shares memories on SiriusXM

Howard Stern shared memories of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, recalling his connection to the former Calvin Klein publicist as interest in her relationship with John F. Kennedy Jr. resurfaces through the FX series Love Story.

In the recent episode of his SiriusXM radio show, the 72-year-old host revealed that he and the late Mrs. Kennedy had bonded in the past through numerous chats. He praised Carolyn:

"She was very lovely. She was a really nice woman."

Still, as he makes a rare insight into the late fashion publicist, Howard Stern admitted he doesn't "have any juicy, gossipy story" about her.

"I knew the real Carolyn Bessette. I won't say I knew her well, but we had many, many conversations, more than casual conversations. I don't want to go into how I knew her, but I knew her. I know enough to keep my mouth shut about that. Some stuff you do have to keep private."

Instead, Howard Stern has nothing but praise for John F. Kennedy Jr.'s wife.

"She was very nice to me, very open and talkative. She didn't give me the nose-up-in-the-air kind of thing."

The radio host continued by disclosing that he and the couple were members of the gym, La Palestra, which was located within the city of New York. Pat Mannochia, a friend of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, was the owner of the establishment.

Howard Stern looks back on his George magazine cover in 1996

Meanwhile, in the same episode, Howard Stern also talked about posing for the cover of George, the pioneering political-fashion magazine founded by JFK Jr. in September 1995.

The broadcaster also stated that "one of the worst covers I ever did" was his appearance on the glossy cover of George in April 1996. He added that it wasn't on it that he wanted to be on the cover of, but it was on the Rolling Stone magazine.

"They convinced me to be chopping down a cherry tree with a chainsaw dressed up in colonel garb. I guess I was supposed to be George Washington, but George Washington didn’t wear this s**t I was wearing. I looked like Paul Revere in drag."

Nonetheless, Howard Stern revealed that JFK Jr., whom he praised as a "super nice guy," was there during his shoot.

"But when John Kennedy Jr. [asks], who is literally American royalty and the nicest guy in the world … he was a super nice guy. He actually showed up to the shoot."

FX's Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette is a dramatized romantic anthology series, which produced by Ryan Murphy.

The franchise features Paul Anthony Kelly and Sarah Pidgeon, who star as the main characters, along with Naomi Watts, who portrays the role of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Grace Summer, who portrays the role of Caroline Kennedy, and Alessandro Nivola, who portrays the role of Calvin Klein.

The series is set to end on Mar. 26, 2026.

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