Changes

|birth_date=January 12, 1951

|birth_date=January 12, 1951

|birth_place=Cape Girardeau, [[Missouri]]

|birth_place=Cape Girardeau, [[Missouri]]

|spouse=Roxy Maxine McNeely (div.)<br>Michelle Sixta (div.)<br>Marta Fitzgerald (div.)<br>Kathryn Rogers

|spouse=Roxy Maxine McNeely (div.)<br>Michelle Sixta (div.)<br>Marta Fitzgerald (div.)<br>Kathryn Rogers

|religion=[[United Methodist]]<ref>[http://www.umglobal.org/2020/02/philip-wingeier-rayo-rush-limbaugh.html Philip Wingeier-Rayo: Rush Limbaugh, Church Division and the Future of the United States of America]</ref>

|religion=[[United Methodist]]<ref>[http://www.umglobal.org/2020/02/philip-wingeier-rayo-rush-limbaugh.html Philip Wingeier-Rayo: Rush Limbaugh, Church Division and the Future of the United States of America]</ref>

}}

}}

'''Rush Hudson Limbaugh III''' (January 12, 1951 - February 17, 2021) was an American [[Conservative talk radio|radio talk show]] host popular with an older, largely male, audience. Married and divorced three times — subsequently married for the fourth time — Limbaugh participated in the [[media bullying]] of [[Todd Akin]] in August 2012, along with other [[RINO Backers]].<ref name="politico.com">https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80003.html#ixzz253Tv1IjT</ref><ref name="rushlimbaugh.com">http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/08/21/akin_s_remark_was_stupid_and_untrue_now_he_must_put_the_nation_s_future_first</ref>  President [[Donald Trump]] awarded him with the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] in 2020.

'''Rush Hudson Limbaugh III''' (January 12, 1951 - February 17, 2021) was an American [[Conservative talk radio|radio talk show]] host popular with an older, largely male, audience. Married and divorced three times — subsequently married for the fourth time — Limbaugh participated in the [[media bullying]] of [[Todd Akin]] in August 2012, along with other [[RINO Backers]].<ref name="politico.com">https://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/80003.html#ixzz253Tv1IjT</ref><ref name="rushlimbaugh.com">http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2012/08/21/akin_s_remark_was_stupid_and_untrue_now_he_must_put_the_nation_s_future_first</ref>  President [[Donald Trump]] awarded him with the [[Presidential Medal of Freedom]] in 2020. Rush is buried in a cemetery in [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri]].<ref>https://bellefontainecemetery.org/contact/getting-here/</ref>

Limbaugh has claimed that his radio show reaches 20 million listeners, but at least one analyst estimates that perhaps only about 1.4 million listeners are tuning into his show at any given time.<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/rush-limbaughs-audience-may-be-so-much-smaller-than-you-think-2012-3</ref>

Limbaugh has claimed that his radio show reaches 20 million listeners, but at least one analyst estimates that perhaps only about 1.4 million listeners are tuning into his show at any given time.<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/rush-limbaughs-audience-may-be-so-much-smaller-than-you-think-2012-3</ref>

Limbaugh's show has been described by a [[conservative]] publication as "lowbrow conservatism" and a "carny barker."<ref>https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/how-radio-wrecks-the-right/</ref>  Talk radio has likely interfered with growth in the conservative movement among young people, and it is difficult to identify a single conservative achievement attributable to Limbaugh.  Since Limbaugh's radio show became associated nationally with the Republican Party about 25 years ago, Republicans have won the popular vote in only one presidential election.  

Limbaugh's show has been described by a [[conservative]] publication as "lowbrow conservatism" and a "carny barker."<ref>https://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/how-radio-wrecks-the-right/</ref>  Talk radio has likely interfered with growth in the conservative movement among young people, and it is difficult to identify a single conservative achievement attributable to Limbaugh.  Since Limbaugh's radio show became associated nationally with the Republican Party about 25 years ago, Republicans have won the popular vote in only one presidential election.  

Rush Limbaugh's show is advertiser supported, which can create a financial incentive for him not to say what needs to be said, and not to stand up for the [[Bible]] in a meaningful manner.  In February 2020, Rush announced on his radio show that he had been diagnosed with [[Lung cancer]].

Rush Limbaugh's show was advertiser supported, which can create a financial incentive for him not to say what needs to be said, and not to stand up for the [[Bible]] in a meaningful manner.  In February 2020, Rush announced on his radio show that he had been diagnosed with [[Lung cancer]]. He died on February 17, 2021, due to lung cancer.

== Early Years ==

== Early Years ==

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III was born in 1951 in Cape Girardeau, [[Missouri]].  At age 16, he chose to explore his passion for broadcasting by working as a [[disc jockey]], hosting a radio show in his hometown.  After four years, he left for [[Pittsburgh]] to work for the former [[ABC News|ABC]] owned and operated ''KQV''.  Following his work as a disc jockey, Rush briefly left broadcasting for [[business]], joining the [[Kansas City Royals]] as Director of Group Sales, and then Director of Sales and Special Events.  In 1983, he re-entered radio as a political commentator for ''KMBZ'' in [[Kansas City]].  A year later, in 1984, Rush dropped out of [[college]] after his freshman year to pursue work full-time as a disk jockey, when ''KFBK'' in [[Sacramento]], [[California]] hired him to host a talk show that reveled in controversy about conservative politics.  Limbaugh tripled the program's ratings in four years.  From there, in 1988 he went on to [[New York]] where the record-breaking national show, the ''EIB Network'', was born.   

Rush Hudson Limbaugh III was born in 1951 in Cape Girardeau, [[Missouri]].  At age 16, he chose to explore his passion for broadcasting by working as a [[disc jockey]], hosting a radio show in his hometown.  After four years, he left for [[Pittsburgh]] to work for the former [[ABC News|ABC]] owned and operated ''KQV'', where he used the on-air name "Jeff Christie".  Following his work as a disc jockey, Rush briefly left broadcasting for [[business]], joining the [[Kansas City Royals]] as Director of Group Sales, and then Director of Sales and Special Events.  In 1983, he re-entered radio as a political commentator for ''KMBZ'' in [[Kansas City]].  A year later, in 1984, Rush dropped out of [[college]] after his freshman year to pursue work full-time as a disk jockey, when ''KFBK'' in [[Sacramento]], [[California]] hired him to host a talk show that reveled in controversy about conservative politics.  Limbaugh tripled the program's ratings in four years.  From there, in 1988 he went on to [[New York]] where the record-breaking national show, the ''EIB Network'', was born.   

On August 1, 1988, Rush launched his phenomenally successful radio broadcast into national syndication, with fifty-six radio stations.  More than twenty years later the show is heard on nearly six hundred stations by some 20 million people each week and is the highest-rated national radio talk show in America.  Rush was awarded the "Syndicated Radio Personality" of the year by the [[National Association of Broadcasters]] in 1992, 1995, 2000, and 2005.  He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1993 and National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1998.  Rush Limbaugh has been labeled as the savior of AM radio by broadcast industry leaders, sometimes called the "Doctor of Democracy."<ref name=doctor>[http://www.twoifbytea.com/doctor.php Rush Limbaugh, the "Doctor of Democracy"], [[Two If By Tea|TwoIfByTea.com]].</ref>

On August 1, 1988, Rush launched his phenomenally successful radio broadcast into national syndication, with fifty-six radio stations.  More than twenty years later the show is heard on nearly six hundred stations by some 20 million people each week and is the highest-rated national radio talk show in America.  Rush was awarded the "Syndicated Radio Personality" of the year by the [[National Association of Broadcasters]] in 1992, 1995, 2000, and 2005.  He was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1993 and National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1998.  Rush Limbaugh has been labeled as the savior of AM radio by broadcast industry leaders, sometimes called the "Doctor of Democracy."<ref name=doctor>[http://www.twoifbytea.com/doctor.php Rush Limbaugh, the "Doctor of Democracy"], [[Two If By Tea|TwoIfByTea.com]].</ref>

== Radio ==

== Radio ==

Limbaugh hosts a radio show famed for its incisive criticism of the follies of liberalism. He is often the target of liberal's ''[[ad hominem]]'' attacks, such as Democrat former U.S. Senator [[Al Franken]], who wrote a book entitled ''"Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot"''.  Limbaugh generically refers to [[feminists]] who advocate [[abortion]] as ''feminazis'' and to his own self as having "talent on loan from God".  Sensitive about his own schooling, he ridicules the college educated as the "Arts & Croissant Crowd."  

Limbaugh hosted a radio show famed for its incisive criticism of the follies of liberalism. He was often the target of liberal's ''[[ad hominem]]'' attacks, such as Democrat former U.S. Senator [[Al Franken]], who wrote a book entitled ''"Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot"''.  Limbaugh generically referred to [[feminists]] who advocate [[abortion]] as ''feminazis'' and to his own self as having "talent on loan from God".  Sensitive about his own schooling, he ridiculed the college educated as the "Arts & Croissant Crowd."  

Limbaugh's conservative talk show is nationally syndicated and averages over 16-20 million listeners weekly, making him the #1 radio talk show host in America

Limbaugh's conservative talk show was nationally syndicated and averaged over 16-20 million listeners weekly, making him the #1 radio talk show host in America

<ref>[http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=34 The Top Talk Radio Audiences] Talkers magazine online</ref> for three decades. In July 2008, Rush announced "he has renewed his contract with Premiere Radio Networks and Clear Channel Radio, continuing syndication of his show 'many years into the future.'" <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27326 Rush Renews Contract], ''[[Human Events]]'', July 2, 2008</ref>

<ref>[http://www.talkers.com/main/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17&Itemid=34 The Top Talk Radio Audiences] Talkers magazine online</ref> for three decades. In July 2008, Rush announced "he has renewed his contract with Premiere Radio Networks and Clear Channel Radio, continuing syndication of his show 'many years into the future.'" <ref>[http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27326 Rush Renews Contract], ''[[Human Events]]'', July 2, 2008</ref>

=== Audience ===

=== Audience ===

Limbaugh's fans enjoy his bluster and bombast, but behind it there is a substantive defense of a coherent political philosophy. He makes politics engaging and entertaining, producing an audience more eager to seek out other sources of information. Limbaugh "dittoheads" consume more print news than do non-listeners. Like Fox News viewers, Limbaugh fans are more likely to tune in to presidential debates. Far from making people cynical or indifferent toward public affairs, Limbaugh reinforces his audience's disposition to participate in the political process.<ref>Jamieson and Cappella (2008)</ref>

Limbaugh's fans enjoyed his bluster and bombast, but behind it there was a substantive defense of a coherent political philosophy. He made politics engaging and entertaining, producing an audience more eager to seek out other sources of information. Limbaugh "dittoheads" consumed more print news than did non-listeners. Like Fox News viewers, Limbaugh fans were more likely to tune in to presidential debates. Far from making people cynical or indifferent toward public affairs, Limbaugh reinforced his audience's disposition to participate in the political process.<ref>Jamieson and Cappella (2008)</ref>

Conservative Republicans are in his audience, but educational attainment, family income, and race do not predict who listens. Listening to Limbaugh is significantly correlated with public affairs information.  He is not merely an entertainer and people who listen to him regularly are very well informed on public affairs.  However, his radio audience is smaller than the TV audiences of conservative commentators [[Bill O'Reilly]] and [[Sean Hannity]].<ref>Stephen Earl Bennett, " Who Listens to Rush Limbaugh's Radio Program and the Relationship Between Listening to Limbaugh and Knowledge of Public Affairs, 1994-2006," ''Journal of Radio & Audio Media,'' May 2009, Vol. 16 Issue 1, p66-82, in [[EBSCO]]</ref>  

Conservative Republicans were in his audience, but educational attainment, family income, and race did not predict who listens. Listening to Limbaugh was significantly correlated with public affairs information.  He was not merely an entertainer and people who listen to him regularly were very well informed on public affairs.  However, his radio audience was smaller than the TV audiences of conservative commentators [[Bill O'Reilly]] and [[Sean Hannity]].<ref>Stephen Earl Bennett, " Who Listens to Rush Limbaugh's Radio Program and the Relationship Between Listening to Limbaugh and Knowledge of Public Affairs, 1994-2006," ''Journal of Radio & Audio Media,'' May 2009, Vol. 16 Issue 1, p66-82, in [[EBSCO]]</ref>  

=== Poking fun at Obama liberals ===

=== Poking fun at Obama liberals ===

After McNabb's response, "It's sad that you've got to go to skin color. I thought we were through with that whole deal," significant pressure was put upon Limbaugh to resign.<ref>http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2003/1001/1628537.html</ref>

After McNabb's response, "It's sad that you've got to go to skin color. I thought we were through with that whole deal," significant pressure was put upon Limbaugh to resign.<ref>http://espn.go.com/gen/news/2003/1001/1628537.html</ref>

==Works==

==Publications==

* ''The Way Things Ought to Be'', (1992)

* ''The Way Things Ought to Be'' (1992)<ref>https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Way-Things-Ought-to-Be/Rush-Limbaugh/9780743547758</ref>

* ''See, I Told You So'', (1993)

* ''See, I Told You So'' (1993)<ref>https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/See-I-Told-You-So/Rush-Limbaugh/9780743545952</ref>

* ''Rush Revere'' series:

* ''Rush Revere'' series:

** ''Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims'', (2013)

** ''Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims'' (2013)<ref>https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Rush-Revere-and-the-Brave-Pilgrims/Rush-Limbaugh/Rush-Revere/9781476755861</ref>

** ''Rush Revere and the First Patriots'', (2014)

** ''Rush Revere and the First Patriots'' (2014)<ref>https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Rush-Revere-and-the-First-Patriots/Rush-Limbaugh/Rush-Revere/9781476755885</ref>

** ''Rush Revere and the American Revolution'', (2014)

** ''Rush Revere and the American Revolution'' (2014)<ref>https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Rush-Revere-and-the-American-Revolution/Rush-Limbaugh/Rush-Revere/9781476789873</ref>

== Other Facts ==

== Other Facts ==

[[Category:Broadcasters]]

[[Category:Broadcasters]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Republicans]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservatives]]

[[Category:Conservative Authors]]

[[Category:Conservative Authors]]

[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]

[[Category:Presidential Medal of Freedom award winners]]

[[Category:Heroes]]

[[Category:Heroes]]