Jimmy Swaggart, Televangelist and Southern Gospel Legend, Dies

Jimmy Swaggart, the Pentecostal televangelist whose fiery preaching and unmistakable musical style helped define an era of American evangelicalism and Southern Gospel music, has died at the age of 90. Swaggart passed away on July 1, 2025, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after suffering a cardiac arrest two weeks prior. He remained unconscious in the hospital until his death.

A towering figure in both religious broadcasting and sacred music, Swaggart's influence was felt far beyond the pulpit. Rising to prominence in the 1970s and exploding into national consciousness in the 1980s, his Jimmy Swaggart Telecast attracted millions of viewers weekly. At its height, the ministry brought in over $140 million annually.

Yet beyond the sermons and the scandal that nearly derailed his career in 1988, Swaggart's musical legacy stands as one of his most enduring contributions. A cousin to both Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, Swaggart brought a honky-tonk piano style to the church, fusing boogie-woogie and gospel with deep spiritual conviction. He began recording gospel music in 1958 and would go on to release more than 50 albums, selling over 17 million copies. His renditions of hymns such as "Jesus, Just the Mention of Your Name" and "There Is a River" became Southern Gospel staples, beloved across denominational lines.

Swaggart's contribution to Southern Gospel music helped popularize the genre globally. His live crusades featured stirring altar calls backed by full gospel choirs and a rhythmically rich sound that bridged traditional gospel with Southern musical idioms. Even as his television ministry faced setbacks, his music ministry remained constant. In 2010, he launched the SonLife Broadcasting Network, through which his preaching and gospel music continued to reach international audiences.

Though his ministry was permanently altered after a series of moral failures led to his defrocking by the Assemblies of God, Swaggart remained active as a preacher, musician, and broadcaster. His passionate performances at the piano, often with tears flowing and hands lifted, became emblematic of a generation of charismatic worshippers.

Jimmy Swaggart is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Frances Swaggart; their son, Donnie Swaggart; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In a statement, the Swaggart family expressed grief mixed with hope, writing, "He is now in the arms of the Savior he sang about so often."

Funeral arrangements are forthcoming. Tributes have poured in from religious and musical communities alike, recognizing Swaggart not only as a controversial figure but as a defining voice in the history of American Southern Gospel music.

 

 

Tags : Jimmy Swaggart Jimmy Swaggart death Jimmy Swaggart funeral Jimmy Swaggart Cardiac Arrest Jimmy Swaggart Hospitalized