Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart Dies at 90

Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart died at age 90 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, weeks after suffering a cardiac arrest. Swaggart rose from humble beginnings in Ferriday to global prominence through his Pentecostal ministry, reaching millions with his SonLife Broadcasting Network, which airs on thousands of stations worldwide. He authored over 100 books and sold millions of gospel albums, earning induction into the Delta Music Museum Hall of Fame alongside his cousins Jerry Lee Lewis and Mickey Gilley. His career was marked by scandals, including a 1988 prostitution incident that led to his defrocking, but he continued his ministry for decades with significant support from his congregation. Swaggart was married to his wife Frances for over 72 years and is survived by her, their son Donnie, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His legacy remains influential in American evangelicalism despite ongoing controversies.