Earlier Wednesday morning, Rush Limbaugh succumbed to a long battle with lung cancer. The announcement came first from his wife Kathryn, who took over his radio show to announce their loss. A family statement followed soon after, on his Facebook account.

First airing in 1988, Limbaugh’s show began nationally with a little over 50 stations, to eventually being featured in over 600. His listeners had built to almost 27 million.

Limbaugh’s presence had left quite an indelible mark in the political atmosphere, and even generally in the culture. Following his death, it was hard to find a popular conservative who didn’t credit Rush Limbaugh with their own political, and ideological awakening. A great number of them, even credit him with their desire to pursue careers as political and conservative writers.

Limbaugh first announced his illness on February of 2020, in order to explain some unexpected absences. A few days later, he was a guest at President Trump’s State Of The Union Address, where he was presented (much to his surprise,) with a presidential medal of freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award.

In one of his final broadcasts, Limbaugh reaffirmed a return to the faith he had clung to during his final years:

“I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is of immense value, strength, confidence. That’s why I’m able to remain fully committed to the idea that what is supposed to happen will happen when it’s mean to.”

Limbaugh’s impact on the political, and cultural landscape was seismic. It has been said that what we know of “alternative media,” is owed to him.

As The Federalists’ Ben Domenech puts it:
“You knew when you sat in the driveway at home, the ignition turned off but the radio dial still on, stuck between two stations, because you wanted to hear the rest of the truth. He was that good.”

Limbaugh is survived by his wife Kathryn. He is brother to notable Christian writer, David Limbaugh.