Jimmy Swaggart Dies at 90
Jimmy Swaggart onstage, 2012. Photo by Jntracy75 under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Jimmy Swaggart's life played out like a Southern Gothic epic — a saga marked by sin and salvation, of dizzying heights and public humiliation. And now, at 90, the famed televangelist has taken his final bow.
Swaggart died on July 1 after suffering a cardiac arrest weeks earlier at his Baton Rouge home, his family announced in a statement on Facebook. "Today was the day he has sung about for decades. He met his beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory," the family wrote, according to PEOPLE.
From Humble Beginnings to Global Pulpit
Born in 1935 in tiny Ferriday, Louisiana, Jimmy Lee Swaggart grew up poor, but with a powerful faith and a knack for performance. At 17, he married Frances Anderson, the woman who stood by him through it all. Together they built a spiritual empire that would reach more than 140 countries and rake in millions.
By 1955, Swaggart was preaching full-time, crisscrossing the South in a beat-up car, holding revivals in church basements and tent meetings. His fiery sermons and emotional delivery soon attracted crowds — and dollars. He sold over 17 million gospel records and launched a televised ministry that became appointment viewing for millions.
The Rise of a Religious Superstar
At his peak in the 1980s, Swaggart was a charismatic titan. His Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge was packed, his SonLife Broadcasting Network reached global audiences, and his ministry reportedly took in up to half a million dollars a day. "Satan, you're in for a whupping!" he would thunder, according to The New York Times, before breaking into tears — and so would his followers.
His gospel music career also soared. In 1958, he recorded his first album, "Some Golden Daybreak," and never stopped. His television broadcasts made him a household name alongside fellow evangelists like Jerry Falwell and Oral Roberts.
Scandal and a Tearful Confession
But in 1988, the empire cracked. Swaggart was caught on camera entering a New Orleans motel with a sex worker — a shocking betrayal for his followers. In an unforgettable televised sermon, according to The New York Times, he sobbed to his wife and congregation: "I have sinned against You, my Lord, and I would ask that Your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain."
The Assemblies of God suspended him, but Swaggart defied their order to stay away from the pulpit for a year, splintering from the denomination. His donations plummeted, but he continued to preach — albeit to smaller audiences — and refused to retreat from the spotlight.
Scandal struck again in 1991 when police in California caught him driving with a prostitute and pornography in his car. His response this time? "The Lord told me it's flat none of your business," he told his congregation, according to The New York Times.
A Family Affair
Through it all, Frances stood by his side. "Other than my Salvation, she is the greatest thing that's ever happened to me," Swaggart once wrote, according to PEOPLE, praising her faith and resilience. Their son Donnie eventually took over the ministry's day-to-day operations, continuing the family legacy.
The Swaggarts had one son, three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
The Final Days
On June 15, Swaggart went into cardiac arrest at his Baton Rouge home. According to PEOPLE, his son Donnie told congregants that morning, "Without a miracle, his time will be short." He lingered in critical condition for weeks before passing away on July 1.
In their statement, his family said they "rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day," as reported by PEOPLE.
The Legacy of Jimmy Swaggart
Swaggart's life was a kaleidoscope of contradictions — righteous and reckless, saintly and scandalous. His critics never forgot his moral failings. His followers never forgot his voice.
He preached the Gospel longer on television than any other American evangelist. He sold millions of albums. He filled arenas and living rooms with tears, hope, and the promise of grace.
As he once said during a televised service, according to The New York Times: "God is patient with us. Thank God for that."
Even in death, Jimmy Swaggart remains unforgettable.
References: Jimmy Swaggart, Televangelist and Preacher, Dies at 90 After Suffering Cardiac Arrest | Jimmy Swaggart Dies at 90; Passionate Televangelist Was Ousted by Scandal | Jimmy Swaggart, passionate televangelist ousted by scandal, dies at 90 | Jimmy Swaggart obituary
