Jimmy Swaggart Obituary-Death News; Jimmy Swaggart, Pentecostal Televangelist and Gospel Singer Dies
Jimmy Swaggart, the famed Pentecostal televangelist and gospel musician whose fiery sermons, musical talent, and later scandals made him one of the most recognizable and controversial figures in American religious life, has died at the age of 90 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, Jimmy Lee Swaggart grew up in a deeply religious Pentecostal family in a small town known for producing notable musical talents, including his cousins Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley.
While Lewis found fame in rock and roll, Swaggart chose a different path — dedicating his life to spreading the gospel through preaching and music. Swaggart began his ministry in the 1950s, traveling from town to town as a revivalist preacher, often accompanied only by his piano and a heartfelt message of salvation.
He officially founded the Jimmy Swaggart Ministries in the early 1970s, and from his headquarters in Baton Rouge, he launched a media empire that would soon reach millions across the globe.
Through his program Jimmy Swaggart Telecast, broadcast weekly into homes via cable and satellite, he brought Pentecostal preaching and gospel music into the mainstream, becoming a household name by the 1980s.
Swaggart was known for his passionate oratory, traditionalist theology, and powerful musical performances. His piano-based gospel music, often accompanied by his rich tenor voice, earned him a devoted following and widespread acclaim.
He released dozens of gospel albums over his career and was a fixture in Christian broadcasting for decades. However, his career was famously marred by scandal.
In 1988, Swaggart was implicated in a sex scandal involving a prostitute, and the highly publicized incident led to his suspension from the Assemblies of God, the denomination to which he belonged.
Despite tearful public confessions, further controversies followed, and his public image was deeply affected. Yet, he remained active in ministry, continuing to preach and broadcast from Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge alongside his wife, Frances, and their son, Donnie.
Swaggart’s downfall became a cultural moment in America — a cautionary tale of fame, hypocrisy, and redemption. But his resilience was equally striking. Refusing to retreat from the spotlight entirely, he rebuilt his ministry and continued broadcasting sermons well into his later years.
Many of his longtime followers stood by him, inspired by his message of grace and his refusal to abandon the pulpit. In addition to his televised ministry, Swaggart founded the SonLife Broadcasting Network and established Jimmy Swaggart Bible College (now Jimmy Swaggart Bible College and Seminary), aiming to train future generations of ministers in Pentecostal theology. Despite controversy, his media influence endured for decades and extended globally through radio, satellite, and online platforms.
Jimmy Swaggart is survived by his wife of more than 70 years, Frances Anderson Swaggart, their son Donnie Swaggart, daughter-in-law Debbie, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Donnie, who has long been involved in the ministry, is expected to continue leading the church and media operations.
A man of contradictions, Swaggart will be remembered both for his soaring influence in spreading Pentecostal Christianity and the deeply human failings that nearly unraveled it. His story is one of faith and fallibility, musical brilliance and moral complexity — an American religious saga unlike any other.
A public memorial service will be held at Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, with further details to be announced by Jimmy Swaggart Ministries. The service will be broadcast live on SonLife Broadcasting Network, allowing his global congregation to mourn and remember a man who, for better or worse, shaped the face of modern evangelical media.
