Joni Lamb, the president and founder of the evangelical Daystar Television Network, has died at the age of 65. The network announced that she had been privately battling a series of undisclosed health issues, which were compounded by a recent back injury, leading to a rapid deterioration in her condition.
Career and Legacy
Lamb co-founded Daystar with her first husband, Marcus Lamb, in 1993. The network grew to become one of the world's largest evangelical Christian television broadcasters, reaching over 100 million American households at its peak. Daystar described her as a revolutionary figure in religious media, stating that she “built a ministry that brought the Gospel into millions of homes.” The network generates approximately $14 million annually from airtime revenues and a similar amount from donations.
Health Struggles
Daystar revealed that Lamb had been dealing with serious health matters for some time, which she chose to face privately. Her condition worsened dramatically after she suffered a back injury, leading to a more serious medical situation than anticipated. The network expressed gratitude for her legacy of faith, saying, “Joni’s love for the Lord and for the people we serve shaped this ministry from the beginning.”
Controversies
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lamb and her husband attracted controversy by broadcasting programs featuring anti-vaccine figures. She developed a close relationship with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now Secretary of Health and Human Services, and shared his views on vaccines with her audience. Marcus Lamb died from COVID-19 complications in November 2021 at age 64. In 2024, the network faced allegations from her son Jonathan, who accused her of covering up sexual abuse of his daughter by a family member. Lamb denied the claims, and a police investigation ended without charges.
Personal Life
After Marcus's death, Lamb married Doug Weiss, a psychologist and show host on her network, in 2023. She lived in Bedford, Texas, in a $3.1 million home and was one of the most recognizable religious figures in the United States.
