"Howard Stern had success" is a more Past activity than "He opted out of..."

We know an activity past to a recent past should take Past Participle form. (HAD + Verb)

Now see what is the Verb here? (This is the point when we generally make mistake... its not grammar its logic)

The verb here is "Have".

For example,

I have lunch. (This means you have it but you are not having [eating] it. Generally, rather than eating lunch we say having lunch)
I have had my lunch. (The sentence is in present participle form, the usage of HAD is nothing but participle form of HAVE)
I had had my lunch. (Past Participle)

Now replace the "my lunch" with "success".

I had had success. The green had is the verb which can be replaced by possessed or achieved etc. Sounds correct?

This is what implemented in option A which makes the option correct.

In option C you are either missing the VERB or missing the Past Participle form. So, incorrect.

"had had" sounds so awarkward but I guess it's logically correct. Thanks shovan

[email protected] wrote:"had had" sounds so awarkward but I guess it's logically correct. Thanks shovan

It comes across much more clearly in spoken English, and of course if it's awkward-looking, it's best to avoid it in your own writing.