Daystar Founder Joni Lamb Dead at 65, Leaves Behind a Media Legacy

When Joni Lamb and her late husband Marcus cofounded Daystar Television Network in 1993, they were building something that would reshape Christian media for decades. Now, the woman who helped steer one of the world’s largest Christian TV networks has passed away at 65, leaving behind a complex legacy of faith, perseverance, and public struggle.

Joni died on May 7, 2026, following complications from a back injury that compounded existing health challenges in ways that caught even her inner circle off guard. The Daystar Board of Directors confirmed her passing in a statement reflecting the weight of her absence:“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.”

Her journey wasn’t without turbulence. Born in Texas before her family moved to Greenville, South Carolina, Lamb grew up steeped in evangelical church life through her family’s involvement at Tremont Avenue Church of God. That foundation shaped everything that followed—her work as a Christian broadcaster, her role as cofounder and president of Daystar, and her presence as executive producer and host of Joni Table Talk for 12 seasons. But the ministry also became a stage for deeply personal pain: in 2010, Marcus publicly admitted to an extramarital affair with a Daystar staff member, a scandal the couple addressed on air while facing extortion threats tied to the disclosure.

Marcus died in November 2021 after contracting COVID-19 at age 64. Joni eventually found companionship again, marrying Dr. Doug Weiss in June 2023. Together, Joni and Marcus had three children—Jonathan, Rachel, and Rebecca—who gave them seven grandchildren. The board noted that before her death, Joni had worked to ensure an executive leadership team was in place so the ministry would continue without interruption. Programming will go forward as scheduled, with tributes to her woven in.

Her death marks the end of an era for a network that became synonymous with her voice and vision. Whether Daystar’s next chapter can match the impact she and Marcus built remains to be seen—but her imprint on Christian broadcasting won’t fade anytime soon.