Introduction
Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart Dies at 90: A Legacy of Faith and Controversy
Jimmy Lee Swaggart, one of the most prominent and polarizing figures in American religious broadcasting, has died at the age of 90, his ministry announced on Tuesday. The longtime televangelist passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest in June at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he spent much of his life preaching and building his ministry. His death marks the end of a decades-long career marked by evangelical success, scandal, and enduring influence.
Born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, Swaggart grew up in a deeply religious family with musical roots. Before entering the pulpit full-time, he became known for his gospel music and charismatic presence. He launched his first radio program in the late 1960s, and by the 1970s his weekly television broadcast, The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast, was reaching millions of homes across the United States. At the height of his influence in the 1980s, Swaggart’s ministry boasted weekly audiences of nearly two million viewers and generated substantial revenue through donations, magazine subscriptions, and merchandise.
Swaggart’s impact extended beyond television evangelism. He founded the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge and later the SonLife Broadcasting Network, which continued to air his sermons and Christian programming. A prolific author and recording artist, he sold millions of gospel albums and published scores of books and study guides, securing his place as a major voice in Pentecostal Christianity.
Despite his undeniable reach, Swaggart’s career was overshadowed by controversy. In 1988, his ministry imploded when photographs surfaced showing the preacher with a sex worker. On live television, a visibly emotional Swaggart delivered his now-infamous apology, declaring, “I have sinned against you,” a moment that became emblematic of both public repentance and the vulnerabilities of televangelism. He was subsequently defrocked by the Assemblies of God, though he continued to preach independently. A second scandal in 1991 involving another prostitute further damaged his reputation, and his national audience dwindled.
In later years, Swaggart maintained a smaller, loyal following through radio, television, and online outreach, continuing to espouse a fire-and-brimstone style of preaching that had defined his earlier ministry. He is survived by his wife, Frances, their son Donnie—who succeeded him in church leadership—and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Swaggart’s life underscored both the power and the perils of religious media. Whether celebrated for his passionate delivery and global reach or criticized for his moral failings and controversies, his legacy will remain a subject of debate within American Christianity for years to come.