Famed American televangelist Jimmy Swaggart has passed away at the age of 90. While he rose to prominence as one of the most influential and recognizable figures in Christian broadcasting, his legacy remains deeply controversial due to a series of sex scandals that ultimately dismantled his career. His death was confirmed via a heartfelt message posted on his official Facebook page after he suffered 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. 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,” the announcement read.

Born on March 15, 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana, Jimmy Swaggart was raised in a family steeped in religious conviction and Southern musical tradition. His relatives included his cousin Jerry Lee Lewis, the wild piano-playing rock and roll star, and Mickey Gilley, a successful country singer. Initially, Swaggart tried to break into the music scene, but his devotion to the church ultimately directed his path. By the 1950s, he had become a Pentecostal preacher and in 1961 was officially ordained by the Assemblies of God.

Throughout the 1960s and 70s, Swaggart produced a series of gospel albums that helped elevate his profile. But it was television that made him a household name. By the 1980s, Swaggart’s fiery sermons, broadcast across America, drew in millions of viewers. He became one of the most popular televangelists of the era. His ministry, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, included a Bible college, a publishing arm, and a television network—at its peak, it was estimated to be worth more than $140 million.

However, the man who spoke so passionately about righteousness and repentance would soon become engulfed in scandal. In 1988, Swaggart’s carefully curated image crumbled after he was caught on camera with a sex worker. The woman, identified as Debra Murphree, became central to a media firestorm. The man who exposed Swaggart was not an outsider but another preacher—his longtime rival, Marvin Gorman.

The two had a deeply antagonistic history. Years earlier, Swaggart had publicly accused Gorman of adultery, which led to Gorman’s expulsion from the ministry. Seeking retribution, Gorman reportedly hired a private investigator to follow Swaggart. That investigator snapped photos of Swaggart entering a motel with Murphree in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The resulting scandal was explosive.

Murphree later gave a detailed and graphic account of her encounters with the televangelist in an interview with Penthouse magazine. According to her, they met approximately 20 times, and Swaggart usually paid between $30 and $40 per meeting. She alleged that Swaggart had picked her up in his Lincoln Town Car and would ask her to perform explicit acts while he watched. “He asked me to unbutton my blouse and unzip my pants in the car while he drove around,” Murphree recalled. “Once he asked me to hop out naked in broad daylight in front of strangers so he could see the shock on their faces. He’d always try to talk me into pulling my pants off and facing him sideways with legs spread. I said, ‘No, I’m not going to take my pants off in the car.’”

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, according to a 1988 report from UPI, Marvin Gorman confronted Swaggart with the evidence. Swaggart, trying to do damage control, allegedly proposed a deal: he would support Gorman’s reinstatement in the ministry and even offer him a guest spot on his television show. Gorman, however, refused and delivered an ultimatum—Swaggart had four months to come clean or the evidence would be made public. Swaggart missed the deadline, and Gorman followed through on his threat. The scandal broke wide open.

In response, Swaggart took to the pulpit in a now-infamous televised sermon. Tearfully, he addressed his congregation, saying, “I have sinned against you. I beg you to forgive me.” Despite the emotional display, he never directly admitted to his involvement with the sex worker.

Following this dramatic moment, the Assemblies of God issued a disciplinary directive. They asked Swaggart to undergo a two-year rehabilitation period and abstain from preaching for at least one year due to his “moral failure.” Swaggart refused to comply with those terms. As a result, he was defrocked and stripped of his ordination.

The fallout was swift and harsh. Swaggart’s reputation took a serious hit, and although he continued to preach, his influence was never the same. A second scandal followed in the early 1990s when he was again linked to a sex worker, which only deepened public skepticism about his ministry.

Nevertheless, Swaggart remained a fixture in Christian media. In 2009, he launched the SonLife Broadcasting Network, an international Christian television network that featured his sermons, music, and programs. While he never regained the immense popularity he once enjoyed, Swaggart maintained a loyal base of followers who continued to support his work.

In his final years, Jimmy Swaggart lived quietly in Baton Rouge, continuing to lead services at the Family Worship Center. Despite the controversies, his impact on American televangelism was undeniable. He helped usher in an era of religious broadcasting that blended charismatic preaching with mass media outreach.

Now, as tributes pour in from his supporters, many are reflecting on a complex legacy—one defined by both remarkable religious influence and profound personal failings. Jimmy Swaggart’s story is a reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the fragile nature of public trust. His rise and fall remain one of the most dramatic chapters in the history of American televangelism.