Editor's note: This story was updated to correct that Howard Stern is not leaving SiriusXM and that an announcement of his departure was a prank.

NEW YORK (AP) — Howard Stern, the popular radio host who gave a massive boost to the nascent satellite radio business when he signed a blockbuster, multimillion-dollar contract for SiriusXM almost two decades ago, has returned to the airwaves after trolling listeners with a gag.

Stern, 71, who evolved from his shock jock origins to become a respected interviewer, enlisted a flustered Andy Cohen at the top of his show Monday. “This was supposed to be a cleaner hand off. I’m kind of winging it,” said Cohen.

Stern then came on the air and thanked Cohen for agreeing to do the bit.

Stern joining what was then Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. in 2006 ma

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