Howard Stern & Wife Split

Brash, bold, bad - not to mention controversial, over-the-top, and sometimes profane Howard Stern has split with his wife of 21 years.

Could the break-up have anything to do with the scores of strippers and porn stars that Stern entertained on his nationally-syndicated radio show? A spokesman blames the marriage's failure on Stern's workaholic ways, and Stern often bragged of his marital fidelity.

Stern and his wife Alison, are parting as friends, their spokesman says.

Stern and wife Alison still care for each other, said the spokesman, and they've "settled all their concerns.''

They have three daughters: Emily, Debra, and Ashley.

Stern, the self-titled "king of all media'' would often include intimate details about the couple's married life in his on-air banter.

The spokesman made no mention of a divorce. Forbes magazine estimated that Stern earned $20 million this year.

The couple met while attending Boston University. Their first date was to see the film "Lenny," about one of Stern's heroes, doomed comedian Lenny Bruce. They were married in 1978.

As Stern moved from market to market, increasing his profile and his audience, his relationship with Alison became fodder for his show. He once infuriated his wife by joking on the air about her miscarriage.

Stern often complained to his 10 million daily listeners about his lack of sex life at home. But despite Stern's preoccupation with sex, he repeatedly insisted on his show that he was faithful to his wife.