Kathie Lee Gifford says Howard Stern asked for forgiveness after feud: ‘God can touch anybody’s heart’

Kathie Lee Gifford was stunned when Howard Stern called to apologize.

The former “Today” co-anchor has written a new book titled “I Want to Matter: Your Life Is Too Short and Too Precious to Waste.” It explores the power of self-love and features self-reflecting questions for readers to better understand their hopes and dreams.

In the book, she discussed the power of forgiveness – and how it ended a decades-long feud with the notorious shock jock.

“It was a surprise to get a voicemail from Howard Stern,” the 70-year-old recalled to Fox News Digital. “Once I listened to it, I said to my kids at the table, ‘Well, pigs have now officially flown. . . . [But] I just always believe God can touch anybody’s heart . . . I’m not allowed to hate anybody that hates me. Once you start praying for people, you can’t hate them. Love cannot live where hate does, and it’s a very simple thing.”

“As you grow in your faith, you learn, ‘I’ve got to pray for that person right now. What they just said was so horrible,’” said Gifford. “Just pray. Ask God to heal them, because hurt people, hurt people. It’s the truth.”

The bad blood first boiled in 1995 after Gifford had been chosen to sing the national anthem at Super Bowl XXIX. Her husband, NFL star Frank Gifford, would be hosting the live telecast. According to the book, Gifford heard booing as she sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Gifford soon learned that Stern had asked his fans to boo Gifford when she was introduced on stage. Gifford described the experience as “completely surreal” as she had never met Stern nor listened to his radio show.

But everything would change years later when Stern was a guest on “Today” to announce he was joining the judging panel at “America’s Got Talent.”

“The Lord… said, ‘Kathie, go down and say hello to him, and wish him well with the show,’” said Gifford. “And I said, ‘OK Lord.’ I got up out of my hair and makeup [room]. Those girls had been told, ‘Don’t let Kathie go anywhere near the studio.’… I couldn’t care less. I go downstairs. They go, ‘Where are you going?’ I said, ‘I’m going to go say hello to Howard.’