Howard Stern on JFK Jr’s ‘George’ Magazine Cover & Knowing Carolyn Bessette | ‘Love Story’ FX Series

Howard Stern is revisiting the ‘90s this week, not just through FX’s hit limited series “Love Story,” but through his own memories of a friendship with John F. Kennedy Jr. And a magazine cover he now considers one of his worst. Stern shared his recollections on his SiriusXM radio show Monday, detailing his experience posing for the April/May 1996 issue of George magazine, a publication Kennedy Jr. Launched to shake up the intersection of politics and pop culture.

“I had done the cover for George magazine,” Stern said, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. “So I knew John Kennedy Jr., and he actually showed up to the shoot. It’s one of the worst covers I ever did. And I’ve done a lot of bad ones.”

A Magazine That Aimed to Disrupt

George magazine, which debuted in September 1995, wasn’t your typical political publication. With the tagline “Not Just Politics as Usual,” Kennedy Jr. And his partner, Michael J. Berman, sought to inject a dose of celebrity and cultural relevance into political discourse. The magazine quickly became known for its striking covers, often featuring recognizable faces – supermodels, actors, musicians – reimagined in historical or presidential contexts. The April 1996 issue featuring Stern is still available for purchase through original magazine vendors.

Stern’s involvement stemmed from a personal connection. He described Kennedy Jr. As “literally American royalty and the nicest guy in the world,” explaining that he agreed to the cover shoot almost immediately when asked. “I went down there, and they were like, ‘It’s George magazine. We have a theme cover. You can’t be in your regular clothes. We want you to be, like, George Washington,’” Stern recounted.

Chainsaws and Colonial Garb: The Shoot Itself

The concept, as Stern remembers it, was…unconventional. He was tasked with posing while chopping down a cherry tree with a chainsaw, dressed in what he described as a bizarre colonial outfit. “They convinced me to be chopping down a cherry tree with a chainsaw, dressed up in colonial garb, dressed up, like, I guess I was supposed to be George Washington, but George Washington didn’t wear the s— I was wearing,” he said. He admitted he wasn’t doing many magazine covers at the time by choice, suggesting he might have been more easily persuaded than usual.

Stern playfully described the experience as receiving the “supermodel treatment,” with the photographer and Kennedy showering him with praise during the shoot. “You recognize what John and the photographer did, that thing that they do to supermodels, ‘Gorgeous! You look great! Oh, man, this is the greatest cover. This is our best cover!’ They’re yelling while the guy’s clicking away, and I’m posing like I’m Cindy Crawford, like I’m one of the Hadid sisters,” he joked. “I’m standing there thinking I look handsome with my chainsaw and Louis the 14th [outfit.]”

A Shared History, A Private Connection

The conversation took a more poignant turn when Stern revealed he also knew Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, John’s wife and the other central figure in FX’s “Love Story.” While he acknowledged knowing her, he remained deliberately vague about the nature of their relationship. “She was very lovely,” he said. “She was a really nice woman. I don’t want to go into how I knew her, but I knew her.”

When pressed by his co-host, Robin Quivers, about why he was hesitant to share details, Stern responded, “I just know enough to keep my mouth shut about that. Some stuff you do have to keep private. But anyway, I knew her.” This reticence underscores the enduring sensitivity surrounding the Kennedy family and the tragic circumstances of their deaths in 1999.

“Love Story” and Renewed Interest

Stern’s reflections arrive as FX’s “Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette” continues to captivate audiences. The limited series, which premiered in February, has become FX’s most-watched series ever on both Hulu and Disney+, with the first five episodes garnering over 25 million hours of streaming time, according to the Los Angeles Times. The series finale aired Thursday, March 26th.

The renewed interest in Kennedy Jr. And Bessette Kennedy has prompted many to revisit the cultural landscape of the 1990s, including the ambitious, short-lived experiment that was George magazine. Stern’s candid assessment of his cover shoot offers a glimpse behind the scenes of a publication that, despite its brief run, left a lasting impression on the intersection of politics and celebrity culture. Howard Stern also discussed his memories on YouTube, further fueling the conversation around the series and his connection to the Kennedys.

What’s next for the “Love Story” narrative? While the limited series has concluded its run, the enduring fascination with John F. Kennedy Jr. And Carolyn Bessette Kennedy suggests their story will continue to be revisited and reinterpreted for years to come. The availability of the series on Disney+ and Hulu ensures a continued audience, and further exploration of the era through documentaries or biographical works remains a possibility.