1. Early Life and Rise to Fame
Jimmy Lee Swaggart was born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, into a devout Pentecostal family. A cousin of rock legends Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley, he began preaching and singing gospel music in the 1950s. By 1961, he was ordained in the Assemblies of God and founded the Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge. Swaggart launched a local television broadcast in 1971, which burgeoned into The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast, reaching over two million U.S. households and generating an estimated $140–150 million annually in the 1980s pbs.org+15ew.com+15thedailybeast.com+15.
2. Scandals and Controversy
Despite his evangelical influence, Swaggart’s career was rocked by repeated scandals. In 1988, rival preacher Marvin Gorman exposed his clandestine meetings with a prostitute. Swaggart issued a tearful on-air confession—”I have sinned against You”—then resigned from and was defrocked by the Assemblies of God washingtonpost.com+7britannica.com+7ew.com+7. Another incident in 1991 involved a prostitute in California, further eroding his mainstream influence apnews.com. Nevertheless, he rebounded by founding his own ministry.
3. Continued Ministry
Post-scandal, Swaggart created Jimmy Swaggart Ministries (1984) and later the SonLife Broadcasting Network in 2010, as well as the Jimmy Swaggart Bible College facebook.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15thetimes.co.uk+15. Though reduced in prominence, he still maintained a loyal following via radio, TV, and gospel music—having sold over 15 million albums and recorded 200+ gospel titles thetimes.co.uk+5ew.com+5indiatimes.com+5. In late June 2025, he was inducted into the Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame hollywoodlife.com+2the-sun.com+2yahoo.com+2.
4. Final Days and Death
On June 15, 2025 (Father’s Day), Swaggart suffered a cardiac arrest at his Baton Rouge home. He remained unconscious in intensive care for roughly two weeks facebook.com+15christianpost.com+15people.com+15. His son Donnie stated, “Without a miracle, his time will be short” hollywoodlife.com+3julieroys.com+3cbsnews.com+3. The ministry announced on July 1 that Swaggart had “finished his earthly race” and passed away at age 90 facebook.com+15en.wikipedia.org+15the-sun.com+15.
5. Legacy and Family
Swaggart is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Frances, son Donnie, grandchildren (including Gabriel), and several great-grandchildren washingtonpost.com+3people.com+3julieroys.com+3. Though his ministry once crumbled under scandal, it rebounded into a smaller but devoted operation, continuing his message via SonLife and the Family Worship Center indiatimes.com+11en.wikipedia.org+11apnews.com+11.
6. Reflection
Swaggart’s story embodies both phenomenal religious influence and the human flaws that can accompany power. His impassioned preaching and gospel music shaped Pentecostal ministry in the late 20th century, yet scandal forever colored his legacy. His resilience—rebuilding after scandal and sustaining his work until his death—reveals a complex legacy.
Jimmy Swaggart’s passing on July 1, 2025, closes the final chapter of life’s highs and lows. From humble beginnings, through fame, scandal, and redemption, he remained one of the most recognizable figures in American televangelism.
