We revisit the calculation of the strong couplings D∗Dπ and B∗Bπ from the QCD light-cone sum rules using the pion light-cone distribution amplitudes. The accuracy of the correlation function, calculated from the operator product expansion near the light-cone, is upgraded by taking into account the gluon radiative corrections to the twist-3 terms. The double spectral density of the correlation function, including the twist-2, 3 terms at mathcal{O}left({alpha}_sright) and the twist-4 LO terms, is presented in an analytical form for the first time. This form allows us to use various versions of the quark-hadron duality regions in the double dispersion relation underlying the sum rules. We predict {g}_{D^{ast } Dpi}={14.1}_{-1.2}^{+1.3} and {g}_{B^{ast } Bpi}={30.0}_{-2.4}^{+2.6} when the decay constants of heavy mesons entering the light-cone sum rule are taken from lattice QCD results. We compare our results with the experimental value for the charmed meson coupling and with the lattice QCD calculations.