Renowned Televangelist and Gospel Music Icon Jimmy Swaggart Dies at 90. Jimmy Swaggart, one of the most prominent and polarizing figures in American televangelism, has passed away at the age of 90, his family announced on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. His death brings to a close a public life that spanned more than seven decades, marked by immense influence, moments of scandal, and a lasting legacy in Christian ministry and music.
Swaggart had been hospitalized since June 15, following a cardiac arrest at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Despite intensive medical treatment, he never recovered. Surrounded by his family, he died peacefully in a Baton Rouge hospital.
A Lifetime in Ministry and Global Evangelism
Born Jimmy Lee Swaggart on March 15, 1935, in the small town of Ferriday, Louisiana, he rose from modest beginnings to become a towering presence in Pentecostal Christianity. Raised in a deeply religious, working-class family, Swaggart was influenced early on by his father, Willie Leon “Sun” Swaggart—a fiddle-playing Pentecostal preacher—and his mother, Minnie Bell Swaggart, a homemaker from a lineage of sharecroppers.
From humble roots, Jimmy Swaggart built a global evangelical platform. He was the founder of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries (JSM), which became a cornerstone of Christian media outreach. At its peak, his televised sermons reached millions around the world. His organization owns and operates the SonLife Broadcasting Network (SBN), a global Christian television network that continues to air gospel programming, sermons, and worship services across multiple countries and languages.
To support and nurture the next generation of church leaders, Swaggart also founded the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College, a religious institution designed to train aspiring pastors, evangelists, and ministry professionals.
Jimmy Swaggart Cause of Death
On June 15, 2025, Swaggart suffered a sudden cardiac arrest at his residence, which prompted his immediate hospitalization. The news of his critical condition sparked a global wave of concern and prayer from his followers, colleagues in ministry, and countless individuals who had been touched by his preaching and music.
Soon after his admission to the intensive care unit, his only son, Donnie Swaggart, made a heartfelt public statement, saying, “Without a miracle, his time will be short.” His words conveyed both the seriousness of his father’s condition and the emotional weight the family was carrying.
After more than two weeks of critical care, Jimmy Swaggart passed away on July 1, 2025, at the age of 90. His passing marks the end of an era for a generation of believers who came to faith through his sermons, gospel music, and television ministry.
A Gospel Music Pioneer
In addition to his preaching, Swaggart was celebrated for his deep contributions to gospel music. In 1981, he received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Gospel Performance, Traditional, for his album Worship. His performances were known for their emotional depth, raw conviction, and spiritual intensity, often blending Southern gospel with Pentecostal passion. His musical ministry became a key component of his broader evangelistic work, moving audiences both in-person and through broadcast.
A Family Devoted to Faith
Swaggart’s personal life was closely intertwined with his public ministry. He was married to Frances Swaggart (née Anderson) for more than 70 years. The two were married on October 10, 1952, and Frances remained a steadfast partner in his life and ministry until his passing. She played an active role in JSM, regularly appearing on broadcasts and contributing to the operational and spiritual leadership of the ministry.
The couple had one child, Donnie Swaggart, born on October 18, 1954, who was named in honor of Jimmy’s younger brother, who died in infancy—a tragic loss that left a lasting imprint on the family. Donnie, following in his father’s footsteps, dedicated his life to preaching and continues to serve as a prominent leader within the ministry.
Jimmy Swaggart is also survived by three grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Among them is Gabriel Swaggart, Donnie’s son, who represents the fourth generation of Swaggarts in ministry. Gabriel has taken on significant responsibilities within JSM and currently serves as a pastor and public speaker, ensuring the continuation of the family’s evangelical mission.
A Complex but Enduring Legacy
Swaggart’s life was not without controversy. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, his ministry was shaken by widely publicized personal scandals that led to a temporary fall from grace. Yet, despite these challenges, he rebuilt his platform and retained a devoted following. For many, his message of repentance and redemption resonated even more powerfully because of the very struggles he endured.
His death elicited an outpouring of condolences, memories, and reflections from across the religious world. Admirers remembered him for his thunderous sermons, passionate gospel music, and unwavering commitment to spreading the message of Christ—even when facing intense personal and public challenges.
A Final Word
Jimmy Swaggart’s influence on evangelical Christianity—through preaching, music, and media—remains unmatched by many of his peers. His ministry reached millions of people worldwide, and the family legacy he established continues to flourish through his children and grandchildren.
As the world reflects on his passing, many will remember him as a man of great charisma, conviction, and complexity—a preacher who inspired countless lives, and whose voice echoed through church pews and living rooms for generations.
Though Jimmy Swaggart is no longer with us, his spiritual impact lives on, etched in the hearts of those he led, taught, and inspired throughout his extraordinary life.