Joni Lamb, the influential president and co-founder of the Daystar Television Network, passed away on the morning of May 7, 2026, at the age of 65, leaving the global Christian community in mourning. Her death was announced by the ministry she helped build, and the news quickly spread across the world, with tributes pouring in from fellow televangelists, public figures, and the millions of viewers who had come to know her through decades of broadcasts.
The circumstances of her passing have drawn significant public attention, with many seeking answers about Joni Lamb’s cause of death and her final days. According to an official statement from Daystar, Lamb had been privately dealing with serious and undisclosed health matters for some time before a recent back injury severely worsened her condition.
The network explained that the back injury “compounded those challenges and led to a more serious medical situation than anyone anticipated,” and that despite the dedicated efforts of her medical team, her condition worsened in her last days. While her exact cause of death has not been publicly specified, it is understood to be the result of complications stemming from this combination of existing health struggles and the recent injury.
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Final Health Battles: What Happened to Joni Lamb?
In the weeks leading up to her death, it had become public knowledge that Lamb was facing a health challenge. Her husband, Dr. Doug Weiss, had announced she would temporarily step away from her broadcasting duties after suffering a back injury. However, the Daystar statement later clarified that this injury was superimposed upon a deeper, private health battle. “Prior to her recent back injury, Lamb had been dealing with serious health matters that she chose to face head-on and in private,” the ministry stated, emphasizing her desire to keep her struggles out of the public eye.
With heavy hearts, we share the news that Joni Lamb graduated to Heaven this morning.
We know that she is in the presence of Jesus, reunited with Marcus, and receiving her reward for a beautiful life lived in surrender to the Lord.
Full statement here: pic.twitter.com/UOzak7Oq25
— Daystar Television (@Daystar) May 7, 2026
The network stated that the injury led to a “more serious medical situation,” ultimately leading to her passing. After her death, her last public message on X (formerly Twitter), posted just two hours before she passed, gained attention, in which she spoke about fighting battles, which many followers now interpret as a poignant final reflection on her trying times.
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A Lasting Legacy and the Road Ahead
Joni Lamb’s legacy is inextricably linked to the rise of Daystar, which she co-founded in 1993 with her late first husband, Marcus Lamb. Together, they built it from a single station into one of the world’s largest Christian television networks, reaching millions of homes globally through satellite, cable, and streaming platforms.
Marcus Lamb passed away in 2021 after contracting COVID-19. Joni later remarried in 2023 to Dr. Doug Weiss, who had been a frequent guest on the network. In a statement from the Daystar Board of Directors, they reflected on her impact, saying, “Joni’s love for the Lord and for the people we serve shaped this ministry from the beginning. We grieve her loss, and we are grateful for the legacy of faith she leaves behind”.
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Ensuring the network’s future was a priority for Lamb even in her final days. Daystar confirmed that she had worked with the leadership and the board to establish a comprehensive succession plan to ensure the ministry would continue without disruption. The organization has stated that its programming will proceed as scheduled, with special on-air tributes planned in the coming days. She is survived by her husband Doug, her three children — Jonathan, Rachel, and Rebecca — and their families. The family has requested privacy and prayers as they navigate this profound loss.
