Daystar Television Network is grieving the loss of president and founder Joni Lamb, who died Thursday after battling undisclosed health issues, according to a statement by the religious broadcaster. She was 65.

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Daystar broadcasts a slate of around-the-clock programming to over 100 TV stations across the country, and is on “nearly every major cable and satellite provider across the globe,” according to its website.

Related: Child sex abuse allegations divide family behind Daystar Television Network

Daystar said it was one of the two largest Christian TV networks in the world, The Dallas Morning News reported in 2021. Here’s what to know about Joni Lamb and Daystar.

What happened to Joni Lamb?

The statement from the network, which is based in Bedford, said Lamb had been dealing with serious health ailments before suffering a recent back injury. That escalated her challenges and led to a serious medical situation. Her condition deteriorated in the last few days, according to the broadcaster’s statement. 

Related: Joni Lamb, president and founder of Daystar Television Network, has died, broadcaster says

“Joni’s love for the Lord and for the people we serve shaped this ministry from the beginning,” Daystar’s board said in the statement. “We grieve her loss, and we are grateful for the legacy of faith she leaves behind.”

Who were Marcus Lamb and Joni Lamb?

Daystar was founded in the 1990s by Marcus and Joni Lamb. Marcus Lamb, formerly the network’s CEO, died in November 2021. He was 64. At the time, The News reported that Lamb family members said the family patriarch was battling COVID-19. Before her death, Joni Lamb was Daystar’s president and CEO.

When was Daystar founded?

Marcus Lamb founded the network after taking a trip to Israel in the early 1980s with his wife, The News reported. He said God spoke to him while he was on the trip and told him to create a Christian TV station in Montgomery, Ala.

Lamb founded a station in Montgomery in 1985, but sold it several years later to move to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In late 1997, he launched Daystar Television Network from Bishop T.D. Jakes’ Dallas megachurch The Potter’s House.

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How much money does Daystar bring in?

Daystar brought in around $14 million annually from selling airtime and received another $14 million a year in donations by the early 2000s, according to Christianity Today. The network is registered as a church, and therefore not obligated to release financial reports.

Who hosts shows on Daystar?

Daystar’s programming has included shows hosted by some of the most influential evangelical televangelists and pastors, including Houston pastor Joel Osteen and Bishop T.D. Jakes, according to Daystar’s website.

Related: Daystar CEO Joni Lamb shares first public statement after son’s firing from TV network

What allegations rocked Daystar in 2024?

Daystar Television Network was rocked by allegations in 2024. Joni Lamb and her son, Jonathan, told starkly different stories about a family rift that led to his firing in November 2024 and roiled Christian media. 

Related: Daystar: Colleyville PD closes child sex abuse investigation with no charges

Jonathan Lamb alleged his young daughter was sexually abused by a male relative, and the allegations led to a disagreement with his parents. In November 2024, in a statement to The News, a Daystar spokesperson called Jonathan Lamb’s accusations unfounded. The relative, through his attorney, also denied the allegations. A police investigation into child sex abuse allegations ended without charges being filed.

This story is based on reporting by staff writer Suryatapa Chakraborty and former staff writer Adrian Ashford.

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