Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart dies at 90

Jimmy Swaggart, the controversial televangelist whose career was defined by both massive popularity and scandal, has died at the age of 90.

His death was confirmed by his SonLife Broadcasting Network on July 1. Swaggart had been hospitalized at Baton Rouge General Medical Center following a cardiac event two weeks ago.

Born in Ferriday, Louisiana, on March 15, 1935, Swaggart rose to prominence as one of the most influential televangelists of the 20th century. His fiery preaching style, often accompanied by piano music, attracted millions of viewers. His influence peaked during the 1980s when his sermons – sometimes marked by anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic rhetoric – reached a global audience, with donations surpassing $100 million annually.

However, Swaggart's career took a dramatic turn in 1988, following a scandal in which he was photographed with a prostitute in a New Orleans motel. The incident led to his public confession on live television, where he tearfully admitted to his sins and sought forgiveness from his viewers and God. While some followers viewed the confession as genuine repentance, many saw it as a desperate attempt to salvage his career. The scandal marked the beginning of his fall from grace.

Swaggart was defrocked by his church and continued as an independent Pentecostal minister. Despite a second scandal in 1991, when he was caught with a prostitute, he returned to lead his Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge. While he never regained the widespread influence he once had, he continued to preach on television, radio, and online until his death.

Swaggart's legacy remains complicated, marked by both his contributions to televangelism and his troubled personal life.