As Jimmy Swaggart Dies at 90, Spotlight Turns to Donnie Swaggart's Family and Past
Q1: Who was Donnie Swaggart's second wife?
A1: Donnie Swaggart's second wife was a woman named Judy. The two were married briefly between 2003 and 2006, following Donnie's divorce from his first wife, Debbie. The marriage ended in divorce, and Donnie subsequently remarried Debbie.
Q2: Why was Donnie Swaggart's second marriage controversial?
A2: Within conservative evangelical and Pentecostal theology, strict interpretations of scripture forbid pastors from divorcing and remarrying while remaining in the pulpit. Critics argued that Donnie should have stepped down from ministry, but because Jimmy Swaggart Ministries functions as an independent organization without denominational oversight, no external authority could revoke his credentials.
Q3: Is Donnie Swaggart currently married?
A3: Yes. Donnie is married to Debbie Swaggart. After divorcing in 2003 and Donnie's brief marriage to Judy, Donnie and Debbie reconciled, remarried, and have served together in ministry leadership for nearly two decades.
Q4: Who actually controls Jimmy Swaggart Ministries now that Jimmy has died?
A4: Donnie Swaggart holds the primary pastoral and institutional leadership, supported by his mother Frances Swaggart, his wife Debbie, and his son Gabriel Swaggart. Gabriel acts as associate pastor and designated successor, ensuring the organization remains firmly under family control.
