Rush Limbaugh has passed away at the age of 70 following complications from lung cancer, his wife Kathryn announced on his radio show. “Losing a loved one is terribly difficult, even more so when that loved one is larger than life,” Mrs. Limbaugh said. Rush will forever be the greatest of all time.”
The radio icon learned he had Stage IV lung cancer in January 2020 and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Trump at the State of the Union address days later. First lady Melania Trump then presented America’s highest civilian honor to Limbaugh in an emotional moment on the heels of his devastating cancer diagnosis.
Limbaugh is considered one of the most influential media figures in American history, playing a consequential role in conservative politics since “The Rush Limbaugh Show” began airing in 1988.
As Fox News pointed out, Limbaugh’s program which began 33 years ago on national syndication with only 56 radio stations grew to become the most listened-to radio show in the United States, airing on more than 600 stations, according to the show’s website.
In his final radio broadcast of 2020, Limbaugh thanked his listeners and supporters, sharing that despite the odds, he had outlived his prognosis.
“I wasn’t expected to be alive today,” he said. “I wasn’t expected to make it to October, and then to November, and then to December. And yet, here I am, and today, got some problems, but I’m feeling pretty good today.”
In 2003, Limbaugh checked himself into a treatment facility after becoming addicted to pain medication that he was prescribed following back surgery. Also in 2003, Limbaugh resigned from a brief role as ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown” after making controversial comments about the-Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who the broadcasting legend said was overrated by media members who wanted to see a Black quarterback thrive.
Born in 1951 in Cape Girardeau, MO, Limbaugh broke into the radio business in 1967 at just 16 years old. He learned how to become a disc jockey in high school, working at a small station nearly 100 miles south of St. Louis. He would then go on to pursue local radio opportunities in Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Sacramento, and New York City before changing the industry with the launch of his national program “The Rush Limbaugh Show”.
Limbaugh’s longtime radio partner Premiere Networks sent out a note earlier today to affiliate stations to confirm the passing of the talk radio legend, and share details of how the network will operate in the interim following the loss of one of the nation’s most dominant voices. You can read the letter by clicking here.
Limbaugh is survived by his wife, Kathryn. Further details regarding his funeral are not available at this time.
