My Friend Johnny is a heartfelt, humorous tribute to the twenty-year friendship between Howard Smith and his neighbor, Johnny Carson. Away from the spotlight, Carson was a loyal friend, tennis partner, and dinner host whose warmth and humility left a lasting mark. Through candid stories and original photos, Smith reveals the man behind the legend without crossing the line of privacy Carson valued.
 

Set against Malibu’s elite circles, Smith’s journey features memorable encounters with icons including Princess Diana, Bruce Springsteen, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Wahlberg, Oprah, Jerry Weintraub, Usher, David Foster, Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lasorda—who changed Howard’s life—and seven U.S. presidents.
 

More than a memoir, My Friend Johnny is about true friendship, serendipity, and the magic of knowing someone beyond fame. Woven throughout are five traits Smith consistently found in the most successful people he met: self-motivation, discipline, humility, gratitude, and philanthropy.