Joni Lamb, Christian Broadcaster and Daystar Television Network Co-Founder, Dies at 65
Joni Lamb, the co-founder and president of Daystar Television Network, died Thursday at age 65. The Dallas-Fort Worth area ministry announced her death on May 7, 2026, saying a recent back injury had worsened ongoing health challenges and led to a medical situation that proved more serious than anticipated.
How She Died
Daystar's statement said Lamb had been dealing with serious private health challenges before suffering a back injury that "compounded those challenges and led to a more serious medical situation than anyone had anticipated." Her condition continued to worsen despite medical care and what the ministry described as "the prayers of so many around the world." Her family has requested privacy while they grieve.
Building Daystar
Lamb co-founded Daystar Television Network in 1993 alongside her late husband, Marcus Lamb, who died in 2021. From a base in Bedford — a North Texas suburb situated between Dallas and Fort Worth — the couple built what became one of the world's largest Christian broadcasting networks. Joni spent nearly four decades on-air and in leadership positions, guiding the ministry's content, outreach, and global expansion.
The network reaches tens of millions of viewers through cable, satellite, and digital distribution. Over those decades, Lamb was both a recognizable face on-screen and a driving force behind the ministry's organizational growth. She also hosted "Joni Table Talk," a long-running conversation program that became one of Daystar's flagship shows.
The Board's Statement
The Daystar Board of Directors paid tribute to Lamb in a formal statement released alongside the death announcement. "Joni's love for the Lord and for the people we serve shaped this ministry from the beginning," the board said. "We grieve her loss, and we are grateful for the legacy of faith she leaves behind."
The statement was brief but pointed toward the weight of her absence: Lamb had been not just a figurehead but an operational and spiritual anchor for the network she built.
Succession Planning Already in Place
Despite the loss, Daystar emphasized that the ministry will continue without interruption. According to the announcement, Lamb had worked with the board prior to her death to ensure an executive leadership team was in place. "Previously, she worked with the board to ensure an executive leadership team was in place so that the ministry would continue uninterrupted," the release said.
Programming will proceed as scheduled, with on-air tributes planned. Memorial arrangements have not yet been publicly announced.
Her Survivors
Lamb is survived by her second husband, Dr. Doug Weiss, and her three children. Her death comes five years after the passing of her first husband and co-founder Marcus Lamb, who died in November 2021 from COVID-19 complications — a loss that prompted Joni to step into sole leadership of a network they had built together from the ground up. She continued leading Daystar in the years that followed, a role she held until her death.
The loss of both founders within five years is a significant moment for Christian broadcasting and for the vast audience that followed Daystar's programming across generations. Memorial details are expected to be released by the ministry in the coming days. Until then, Daystar has asked for prayers and privacy for the Lamb family.
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