Joni Lamb, a pioneering figure in Christian broadcasting and co-founder of Daystar Television Network, died Wednesday at age 65, the network and her family announced.
Lamb, who helped transform Daystar from a single station into one of the world’s largest Christian television networks, had been facing serious health challenges that intensified after a recent back injury. Lamb’s death was confirmed by Daystar in a statement Thursday, noting her long battle with health issues that worsened after her injury.
"There are no words that really capture the weight of that sentence or the grief that comes with it. She was deeply loved, and the space she leaves behind is impossible to put into words," he said.
Lamb and her late husband, Marcus Lamb, launched Daystar in 1993 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Over the decades, the network expanded its reach, now broadcasting to more than 200 countries. The network said it reaches 2.3 billion homes worldwide.
Lamb’s vision and leadership were instrumental in Daystar’s growth and global influence, according to the ministry.
After Marcus Lamb died from COVID-19 complications in 2021, Joni Lamb took on the role of president and became the face of Daystar for viewers around the world.
She continued to host "Joni Table Talk," a program known for its candid conversations on faith, and later co-hosted the network’s flagship broadcast, "Ministry Now," alongside Weiss, whom she married in 2023.
Beyond her roles behind and in front of the camera, Lamb was an accomplished author, singer, and producer. Daystar credited her with shaping much of the ministry’s programming and outreach, describing her as the driving force behind many of its initiatives over nearly four decades.
Lamb is survived by her husband, Doug Weiss, and her three children, Jonathan, Rachel, and Rebecca, as well as several grandchildren. In the days following her death, family members posted tributes and memories on social media, expressing gratitude for the prayers and support received from friends and viewers.
Her son, Jonathan Lamb, wrote on Instagram, “Thank you for your prayers. God will carry us through.”