Howard Stern dishes on being JFK Jr.’s cover model: ‘One of the worst covers I ever did’

by

Howard Stern, like many Americans fascinated by pop culture, is currently enjoying the FX series “Love Story” and reminiscing about 1990s New York. However, unlike most viewers, Stern was actually friends with the people the show is based on, and he even appeared on the cover of JFK Jr.’s magazine, George.

On his radio show Monday, photographer David Stern recalled working with John F. Kennedy Jr. Stern had previously shot the cover of George magazine, and Kennedy himself came to the photoshoot. Stern admitted it was one of the worst covers he’d ever created, despite having done many he wasn’t happy with.

In September 1995, John F. Kennedy Jr. and Michael J. Berman started George magazine. It boldly mixed entertainment and politics, with the slogan “Not Just Politics as Usual,” and sought to change how people talked about political issues. The magazine became famous for its striking covers, which featured celebrities – supermodels, musicians, and actors – playfully portraying George Washington.

And, of course, radio jokester and provocateur Stern.

He explained that they’d talked him into cutting down a cherry tree with a chainsaw while wearing a colonial costume. He added that the outfit wasn’t accurate, saying it wasn’t what George Washington would have worn.

Stern explained that a century ago, she wasn’t actively seeking out magazine cover work.

Television

Daryl Hannah has criticized FX’s new show, ‘Love Story,’ which depicts the marriage of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, writing an opinion piece about it in the New York Times.

When John F. Kennedy Jr., who Stern considered both incredibly famous and genuinely kind, requested he appear on the cover of the April/May 1996 issue – which focused on the theme of virtue – Stern immediately agreed, telling his agent, “Absolutely!”

I went to the shoot, and they told me it was for George magazine and they had a specific theme. They said I couldn’t wear my normal clothes and wanted me to dress as George Washington. I guess I was in a good mood that day, because I agreed to it. Usually, I would have refused and said no way.

Stern described being treated like a supermodel during the photoshoot. He said John and the photographer showered him with enthusiastic praise – telling him he looked fantastic and that the photos were going to be amazing. They were very energetic while taking pictures, and Stern playfully posed as if he were a famous model like Cindy Crawford or one of the Hadid sisters. He even thought he looked quite handsome with his unusual combination of a chainsaw and a Louis XIV-style outfit.

After listing off items from the photoshoot, like his shoes and a fluffy shirt, Stern mentioned he also knew Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, but he was hesitant to share details about their connection.

Voices

Commentary: ‘Love Story’ is guilty of the same invasion of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s lives that it condemns

At first, watching the story of JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette felt like getting a peek into a really exciting and glamorous relationship – they seemed like the perfect couple back in the late ’90s. But it quickly became clear that we were also watching something intensely private, and it felt like an invasion of their lives.

He described her as a very kind and lovely woman. He didn’t share the details of how they knew each other, only that they did.

When his co-host, Robin Quivers, asked Stern how he knew the former Calvin Klein publicist, he responded that he knew enough to stay quiet about it. He explained that some things are best kept private, but confirmed he had known her.

Disney reports that “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” is the most popular limited series ever on both Hulu and Disney+. Viewers have streamed the first five episodes of the Ryan Murphy series for over 25 million hours since it launched in February.

The final episode of the show, featuring Paul Anthony Kelly as Kennedy and Sarah Pidgeon as Bessette, will be shown on Thursday.

Read More

2026-03-26 05:31