LOS ANGELES \u2013 APR 22: Howard Stern at the \u201cAmerica’s Got Talent\u201d Los Angeles Auditions Arrivals at Dolby Theater on April 22, 2014 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo by Carrie Nelson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cThe Lord\u2026 said, \u2018Kathie, go down and say hello to him, and wish him well with the show,’\u201d Gifford recalled. \u201cAnd I said, \u2018OK Lord.’ I got up out of my hair and makeup [room]. Those girls had been told, \u2018Don\u2019t let Kathie go anywhere near the studio.’ I couldn’t care less. I go downstairs. They go, \u2018Where are you going?’ I said, \u2018I\u2019m going to go say hello to Howard.’\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the entourage surrounding Stern, Gifford approached him. \u201cHe\u2019s very, very tall, and I was in my little flats coming in from Connecticut,\u201d she said. \u201cI said, \u2018Hey, it\u2019s Kathie Lee.’ I thought it was about time. I said, \u2018I want to wish you all the best with the new show.’ Then I went back to the makeup room. They asked, \u2018Why\u2019d you do that?’ I said, \u2018God told me to.’\u201d<\/p>\n
Gifford continued with her day, not expecting anything further from the encounter. However, later that evening, she received a phone call from an unknown number and instinctively knew it was Stern.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re having dinner, and I see the no-caller ID,\u201d she explained. \u201cI said, \u2018That\u2019s him.’ My husband and son did not want me to take that call. He had been horrible to me and horrendous to my entire family\u2026 I\u2019d never met the man, never listened to his show. I [heard] he said certain things about me. I\u2019d go, \u2018Why? I don\u2019t even know the man.’\u201d<\/p>\nLOS ANGELES \u2013 JAN 24: Kathie Lee GIfford at the 2020 Movieguide Awards at the Avalon Hollywood on January 24, 2020 in Los Angeles, CA. Photo by Carrie Nelson<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGifford didn’t answer the call but later found that Stern had left her an apologetic voicemail. \u201cI can\u2019t even use the language that he used,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a lot of F-words, but he was saying, \u2018I can\u2019t believe how nice you were to me. I\u2019ve been so rude to you and you were so nice. I just need to apologize to you. Please call me.’\u201d<\/p>\n
Although she couldn’t return the call immediately, Gifford said they eventually spoke privately, during which Stern asked for her forgiveness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018I\u2019m really happy for you that you\u2019re asking for forgiveness because anytime we hurt somebody in life, it\u2019s important to ask for forgiveness,’\u201d Gifford recounted. \u201cBut I just want you to know that I forgave you 30 years ago.\u2019 He goes, \u2018What?\u2019 I said, \u2018I forgave you 30 years ago, and I\u2019ve been praying for you every day since. And it\u2019s the truth. He goes, \u2018Oh my God.’ I said, \u2018Would you like to come to dinner sometime?\u2019 He goes, \u2018You\u2019d have me at your house?\u2019 I said, \u2018Of course.’\u201d<\/p>\n
While it’s unclear if Stern ever accepted her dinner invitation, the long-standing feud appears to have been resolved.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a very odd duck,\u201d Gifford added. \u201cBut then I saw him a couple of times over at Sirius, and we were fine. I can get along with a rock.\u201d<\/p>\n
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