Joni Lamb, the co-founder of Daystar Television Network, a prominent Christian television ministry, died Thursday (May 7). She was 65.
“Joni’s love for the Lord and for the people we serve shaped this ministry from the beginning,” the Daystar board of directors said in a statement. “We grieve her loss. We are grateful for the legacy of faith she leaves behind.”
Last month, Doug Weiss, Lamb’s husband, announced that Lamb had suffered a back injury and would be off the air for a while.
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“Prior to her recent back injury, Lamb had been dealing with serious health matters that she chose to face head-on and in private,” said the statement from Daystar about Lamb’s passing. “The back injury compounded these challenges and led to a more serious medical situation than anyone had anticipated. Despite the dedicated efforts of her medical team and the prayers of so many around the world, her condition worsened in the last days.”
Lamb founded Daystar in 1993 with her first husband, Marcus Lamb. The two became beloved figures in Christian broadcasting and were known for their work on racial reconciliation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Marcus Lamb became a fierce critic of vaccines and pushed for alternative treatments such as hydroxychloroquine. He died in November 2021 after contracting COVID-19, and his death made national headlines.
In 2020, the ministry used a $3.9 million Paycheck Protection Program loan to buy a private airplane, which the family used for vacations, according to Inside Edition. That loan was reportedly paid back after Inside Edition began asking questions about it.
Family divide
In 2023, Joni Lamb married Weiss, a sex therapist and Daystar guest, causing a rift in the family as her son, Jonathan, opposed the marriage, arguing that Weiss had not divorced his previous wife on biblical grounds.
About a year later, Jonathan and Suzy Lamb, his wife, accused Joni Lamb of covering up abuse against their 5-year-old daughter, an allegation Lamb repeatedly denied. The couple also accused Lamb of spiritual abuse and financial misconduct.
“Daystar does not support these false allegations and is deeply saddened by Jonathan’s refusal to participate in and work toward peaceful reconciliation and relational restoration, for which Daystar and other Lamb family members had hoped,” the organization told RNS at the time.
The allegations were part of a larger dispute between Jonathan Lamb and Joni Lamb over control of the network after Marcus Lamb died. Jonathan Lamb was fired from the network in November 2024.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Bob Smietana and Kathryn Post.
