Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart Dies at 90 — Details

The longtime preacher and gospel musician has passed away, closing a chapter that spanned more than seventy years of spiritual ministry and music.

Jimmy Swaggart, the Pentecostal televangelist known worldwide for his preaching and gospel performances, died on July 1, 2025. He was 90. The announcement was made through his official social media pages, marking the end of a prolific era in evangelical broadcasting that influenced many people.

The news was shared on Instagram with a message that opened by quoting 2 Timothy 4:7–8, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith."

It continued with a tribute to Jimmy's life and legacy, "Today was the day he has sung about for decades. He met his beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory."

Jimmy spent more than 70 years spreading the gospel through preaching, music, and television broadcasts, like several other musicians do in this genre. His message never wavered, and his voice became a constant presence for many believers around the world.

The tribute went on to describe him as more than just a preacher. He was seen as a worshiper, a warrior, and a steadfast witness to "the mercy of God." Additionally, he always embraced the doors that opened because of his faith.

Meanwhile, his family expressed gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff at Baton Rouge General Medical Center for their care.

They also requested prayers for his wife, Frances, and other family members, including Donnie, Debbie, Gabriel, Jill, Jennifer, Clif, Matt, Joanna, Sam, Ryder, Abby, Lola, Harper, Navy, Harrison, Caroline, and Mackenzie Swaggart.

In the final weeks of Jimmy's life, the Swaggart family made several public appeals for prayer. On June 15, a post on the pastor's Instagram account described an urgent need for divine intervention. The caption read, "He needs a miracle from heaven right now, this morning."

By June 17, Jimmy remained in critical condition. In a video posted that morning, Donnie offered a candid update, saying there had been no improvement, but that he had spent time with his father at the hospital, reading the Bible.

"You know, we have to deal with situations as they are now, but at the same time, we hold open the door for the Lord to do the miraculous. And he can do that," he said.

The emotional toll was especially hard on Jimmy's wife, Frances, who Donnie described as "the rock and the strength of our family and of this ministry."

He told viewers she had rarely left her husband's bedside, only stepping away briefly to shower or eat. Donnie called on the public to pray for her continued strength and clarity.

A special prayer service was held on June 18 at the Family Worship Center, replacing the usual Wednesday night service. Broadcast via the SonLife Broadcasting Network and other online platforms, the service served as both an update and a time for common prayer.

On June 29, Donnie addressed the congregation again, stating frankly that the situation had worsened. He said all family members had gathered, acknowledging that "it wasn't a matter of 'if' but 'when.'"

Earlier that day, many of them had visited Jimmy at the hospital. Donnie once again urged continued prayer, especially for Frances, who was still steadfastly by her husband's side.

"It's sad but at the same time, everyone's race is going to be finished one day," he added in his sermon. "But when you know where the finish line is — and who's waiting there to say, 'Well done, thou good and faithful servant' — there's peace."

With Jimmy's passing now public, many are reflecting on the extraordinary life that defined a remarkable chapter in modern American evangelical history. Born in Ferriday, Louisiana, he grew up in poverty.

His early life was shaped by a religious household and musically gifted relatives, including cousins Jerry Lee and Mickey. Pentecostalism guided his path from a young age; he claimed to have spoken in tongues at nine and played piano in his father's church as a boy.

In 1952, he married Frances, and together they began ministering throughout rural Louisiana. Preaching from makeshift pulpits — including the back of a flatbed trailer — Jimmy was known for his fervent and unapologetic delivery.

His services evoked old-time revival meetings, blending hand-clapping gospel music with sermons that condemned sin and upheld biblical literalism.

Ordained in 1961 by the Assemblies of God, Jimmy started his television ministry in 1975. By the 1980s, he was one of the most prominent figures in American televangelism.

At his peak in 1987, an estimated 2.1 million people tuned in weekly to his broadcasts. His influence eventually extended into politics, bolstered by access to the Reagan White House and support from the Christian Right.

Despite his prominence, Jimmy's career was marred by an alleged scandal. In 1988, after exposing another minister for adultery, he became the focus of a reportedly intimate controversy involving sex workers.

He delivered a tearful televised confession and was suspended — and later defrocked — by the Assemblies of God. A second scandal followed in 1991. Though his public influence waned, he continued preaching under a nondenominational ministry.

Jimmy's legacy includes a vast archive of gospel music, televised sermons, and published religious texts. His fiery style, commitment to "old-time religion," and ability to blend music and preaching made him a unique figure among televangelists.

In later years, his family — particularly Donnie and Gabriel — took on more leadership roles, helping to sustain the ministry's presence.

We offer our sincere condolences to their whole family during this difficult time.