Controversial Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart Dies at Age 90—Days After Suffering Cardiac Arrest at His Louisiana Home

Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart has died at the age of 90, less than a month after it was revealed that he had suffered cardiac arrest at his longtime home in Baton Rouge, LA.

The Pentecostal preacher, whose popular career was sensationally derailed in the 1980s after he became embroiled in a prostitution scandal, was hospitalized in his native Louisiana following the incident. His family has not revealed where exactly he died.

Sharing the news in a post on Swaggart’s official Facebook page, a spokesperson for the Swaggart family paid tribute to staff at the Baton Rouge General Medical Center for their “incredible support and care,” while calling out the televangelist’s unwavering faith.

“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,” the statement reads.

“Today was the day he has sung about for decades. 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.

“For over seven decades, Brother Swaggart poured out his life preaching the gospel, singing songs of the faith, and pointing millions to the saving power of Jesus Christ and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. His voice echoed through nations, his music softened hearts, and his message never changed: Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

The statement went on to encourage Swaggart’s followers to keep his family members in their prayers, including his wife, Frances, his son, Donnie, and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Swaggart’s passing comes more than 80 years after he first “heard the call of God” at the young age of 8, according to the Associated Press.

Speaking about that life-changing moment in a 1985 interview with the Jacksonville Journal-Courier, the televangelist, who was raised in Ferriday, LA, said that “everything seemed different” after he felt the call. “I felt better inside. Almost like taking a bath.”

According to his website, Swaggart was born into a family of gifted musicians, who fostered his love of music from an early age—ultimately propelling him to a successful career as a gospel singer.

Though he began preaching at an early age, Swaggart did not fully commit to his ministry until the age of 23, a career path that later led to his first appearances on TV.

It was those TV appearances that turned Swaggart—who wed his wife, Frances, when he was just 17—into a national legend, with his sermons broadcast across hundreds of TV stations across the U.S., before later being made available in other languages.

“In 1973 Reverend Swaggart started production of a thirty-minute weekly television program titled, ‘The Jimmy Swaggart Evangelistic Association Presents Jimmy Swaggart,’ also known as the ‘Jimmy Swaggart telecast,'” his website states.

“That same year, the evangelist hired a local television crew to tape his meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana. At that time, his was the Christian organization attempting to tape live church services. The process took some refining, but by 1975, Reverend Swaggart and his television crews were able to capture the services live and replay them on his weekly program.

“In 1979, The Jimmy Swaggart Broadcast increased to a one-hour format and was watched by millions of viewers on Sunday mornings. Two years later, in 1981, Reverend Swaggart added a thirty-minute daily television program called A Study In The Word, which still airs today.”

According to AP, by 1986, Jimmy Swaggart Ministries was estimated to be making a staggering $142 million.

However, in 1988, his career was blown apart when the televangelist was caught on camera with a prostitute at a seedy New Orleans motel, a scandal that saw many of his followers turn their backs on his teachings and his ministry.

Swaggart never addressed the scandal specifically. However, he tearfully told his congregation during a televised sermon that same year: “I have sinned against you. I beg you to forgive me.”

He faced yet another scandal in 1992, when he was stopped by police in California who discovered that he had a suspected prostitute in his vehicle.

Though the controversies did not stop Swaggart from continuing to preach, they dented his reputation and significantly decreased his audience, while his dominance over religious broadcasting came to a very sudden end.

However, his eponymous Jimmy Swaggart Ministry remains open to this day—and boasts multiple locations in and around Baton Rouge, where he and his family have been based for many years.

Per his website, his Family Worship Center, which serves as the headquarters for his ministry, opened in 1984 and Swaggart was still serving as its senior pastor up until his death. However, his son, Donnie, had taken over many of the day-to-day services.

“The architectural design of the church is circular in plan with lively acoustics and a gentle slope toward the altar that makes it ideal for those in the congregation to experience the music and ministry in a powerful way,” his website states.

Swaggart’s personal home is located just a 15-minute drive from the circular church, with records showing that his residence is registered to the Family Worship Center.

The dwelling is actually made up of three separate adjacent properties, all of which are listed under the church.

Aerial images reveal that the central home in the trio boasts an opulent swimming pool, as well as beautifully landscaped grounds.

According to records, the property is one of dozens that are registered to Swaggart’s numerous businesses, including his eponymous ministry and the Family Worship Center.