By Peter Omopo
Ferriday, Louisiana — July 2, 2025 — Influential American Pentecostal preacher and televangelist Jimmy Swaggart has died at the age of 90, his family announced Tuesday via a post on his verified Instagram page. The statement described his passing as the culmination of a lifelong commitment to the gospel, calling it “the day he had sung about for decades.”
“Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of his Saviour, Jesus Christ,” the family wrote. “His voice echoed through nations, his music softened hearts, and his message never changed: Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
Born March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, Swaggart rose from humble beginnings to global fame as a fiery preacher and gospel musician. Over a career spanning seven decades, he built a sprawling multi-million-dollar ministry, launched a global television network, and touched millions with his impassioned preaching and music.
Swaggart’s ministry, however, was not without controversy. In 1988, at the height of his influence, his career was rocked by a sex scandal after he was photographed with a prostitute in New Orleans. The incident sparked national headlines and led to his resignation from the Assemblies of God, which had ordered a two-year rehabilitation programme that included a one-year preaching ban.
In a now-famous televised sermon, Swaggart tearfully addressed his congregation, stating, “I have sinned against you. I beg you to forgive me.” Though his viewership declined after the scandal, he continued preaching and broadcasting for decades, maintaining a loyal core audience.
Despite public setbacks, Swaggart remained steadfast in ministry. His Family Worship Center, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and the SonLife Broadcasting Network served as the platforms for his continued outreach.
Swaggart was a first cousin to music legends Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley. Like them, he demonstrated remarkable musical talent from a young age, mastering the piano and fusing gospel with southern soul. He often recalled feeling a divine calling at the age of eight in Ferriday—a moment he said “gave him goosebumps and made his hair tingle.”
Before devoting himself full-time to ministry at 23, he worked in oil fields while preaching at Assemblies of God revivals. His rise to national prominence began with radio, then a print magazine, and eventually, a widely syndicated television ministry that positioned him as a dominant religious figure of the 1980s.
Swaggart was also known for his polarising views. He publicly criticised Roman Catholicism and made controversial remarks about Jews, which drew backlash from various religious communities.
Nonetheless, his legacy as a preacher, singer, and evangelist who shaped American televangelism remains deeply etched in the annals of Christian broadcasting.
He is survived by his wife Frances, son Donnie Swaggart, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.
