Jimmy Swaggart, pioneering televangelist and controversial figure in American religious broadcasting, has died at the age of 90 following a two-week hospitalization in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
His family confirmed Tuesday that the pastor passed away after suffering cardiac arrest on June 15.
“Today, our hearts are heavy as we share that Brother Swaggart has finished his earthly race and entered into the presence of His Savior, Jesus Christ,” read a statement on his official Facebook page. “He met his beloved Savior and entered the portals of glory. At the same time, we rejoice knowing that we will see him again one day.”
Swaggart, a native of Ferriday, Louisiana, rose to prominence in the 1970s as one of the first Christian ministers to harness the full power of television. By the mid-1980s, his Sunday broadcasts were reaching millions, aired on hundreds of stations across the U.S. and around the world. His Pentecostal message, fiery sermons, and musical performances made him a household name and a central figure in the burgeoning world of televangelism.
However, Swaggart’s public ministry suffered a catastrophic blow in 1988 when allegations surfaced that he had been involved with a prostitute. The fallout reached a peak when Swaggart delivered a now-famous tearful televised confession: “I have sinned against you,” he told his congregation, offering no specifics but pleading for forgiveness. The scandal ultimately led to his defrocking by the Assemblies of God, and a permanent tarnish on his once-sweeping influence.
Born on March 15, 1935, Swaggart grew up in a family steeped in musical and religious tradition. He was a cousin of both rock-and-roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis and country star Mickey Gilley, and brought a similar charisma to his own pulpit. Swaggart’s ministry combined traditional Pentecostal theology with mass media savvy, pioneering a model that would be adopted by many in the decades to come.
Yet Swaggart’s legacy was marked by more than scandal. His sermons often included inflammatory statements that drew sharp criticism.
He once described the Catholic Church as “the whore of the Apocalypse” and suggested that Jewish suffering stemmed from the rejection of Christ. Despite these remarks, his core audience remained loyal well into his later years.
Swaggart’s family thanked the staff at Baton Rouge General Medical Center for their “incredible support and care” during his final days. His passing marks the end of an era in American evangelicalism—one that merged spiritual revivalism with satellite television, personal confession with public spectacle, and redemption narratives with enduring controversy.
