Rush Limbaugh
Born 1951 · Age 74
American conservative radio host and political commentator; host of The Rush Limbaugh Show (nationally syndicated 1988–2021); bestselling author and influential conservative voice.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Rush Hudson Limbaugh III was born to Rush Hudson Limbaugh II and Mildred Carolyn (Armstrong) Limbaugh.
First radio job at KGMO (airname 'Rusty Sharpe')
At about age 16 Limbaugh worked at local station KGMO using the airname Rusty Sharpe.
Graduated Cape Girardeau Central High School
Graduated high school; played football and was a Boys State delegate.
Enrolled at Southeast Missouri State University
Enrolled at parents' urging but did not complete degree.
Dropped out of Southeast Missouri State University
Dropped out after two semesters to pursue radio full time.
Hired at WIXZ in McKeesport, PA (as 'Bachelor Jeff' Christie)
Accepted offer to DJ at Top 40 station WIXZ; worked afternoons then morning drive.
Fired from WIXZ; moved to KQV in Pittsburgh
Left WIXZ after 18 months; took a nighttime position at KQV succeeding Jim Quinn.
Dismissed from KQV
Dismissed after management change; returned to live with parents for a time.
Afternoon show at KUDL, Kansas City
Hosted afternoons and then weekend public-affairs talk program; began developing controversial talk style.
Let go from KUDL and brief stint at KFIX
Left KUDL, started evening show at KFIX but was dismissed weeks later for disagreements with management.
Married Roxy Maxine McNeely
First marriage (later divorced in 1980).
Joined Kansas City Royals in group sales
Accepted part-time then full-time director of group sales and special events position; worked out of Royals Stadium and befriended George Brett.
Married Michelle Sixta
Second marriage (ended in divorce in 1990).
Returned to radio at KMBZ in Kansas City (broadcast under real name)
Came back to radio in Nov 1983, dropping earlier on-air moniker and using his real name.
Launched Sacramento show on KFBK
Replaced Morton Downey Jr. on KFBK; show launched October 14, 1984 and quickly became top host in Sacramento.
Began expressing consistent political commentary on air
From 1985 began mocking liberal causes and developed the political-commentary persona that defined his national career.
FCC repealed the Fairness Doctrine
Policy change removed requirement to present opposing views; widely credited with enabling opinionated national talk radio, benefiting Limbaugh's format.
EIB Network and EFM Media (Ed McLaughlin) association
Ed McLaughlin's EFM Media launched Limbaugh's show as its first product (EFM formed in 1988); Limbaugh became the face of the EIB brand.
Began show at WABC New York City (flagship)
Started broadcasting on WABC-AM on July 4, 1988; first WABC episode focused on Iran Air Flight 655 shootdown.
National syndication debut of The Rush Limbaugh Show
Program debuted nationally on August 1, 1988 on 50 stations; expanded quickly to 100 within three months.
Guest-hosted Pat Sajak's CBS show (notable heckling incident)
On March 30, 1990 Limbaugh guest-hosted The Pat Sajak Show and was repeatedly heckled by ACT UP activists; the audience was ultimately cleared.
Rush to Excellence Tour — 45 shows in 1990
National personal-appearance tour; estimated earnings of roughly $360,000 for the 45 shows that year.
Published The Way Things Ought to Be (NYT bestseller)
One of Limbaugh's first major books; reached The New York Times Best Seller list.
Television show debut (syndicated half-hour)
Half-hour syndicated TV show produced by Roger Ailes debuted (first episode September 12, 1992); ran through 1996.
Inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame
Recognition of his prominence in radio broadcasting.
Multiple other honors including Marconi Awards (five total)
Over his career Limbaugh received five Marconi Radio Awards for excellence in broadcasting (years collectively across career).
Published See, I Told You So (NYT bestseller)
Second book reached The New York Times Best Seller list.
Appeared on Late Show with David Letterman
Television appearance on December 17, 1993.
Married Marta Fitzgerald
Third marriage (ended in divorce in 2004).
Received honorary membership from freshman Republican class
After the 1994 Republican Revolution, the new Republican cohort credited Limbaugh with helping their success and awarded honorary membership in their caucus.
Launched No Boundaries tie line
Started selling the No Boundaries Collection neckties; designed by then-wife Marta; ties sold in many retail outlets.
Film cameo in Forget Paris (Billy Crystal)
Appeared as himself in the 1995 film Forget Paris.
No Boundaries sold in ~1,500 outlets; first-year sales $5M
By 1996 the tie brand was sold in nearly 1,500 retail outlets and had sold more than $5,000,000 worth in its first year.
EFM Media sold to Jacor Communications
Ed McLaughlin sold EFM (which had been syndicating Limbaugh) to Jacor Communications.
Inducted into National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame
Another major industry recognition for Limbaugh.
Rented No Boundaries email list to Rudy Giuliani campaign
Rented the email list collected from the No Boundaries website to Rudy Giuliani's U.S. Senate campaign.
Reported severe hearing loss; received cochlear implant
Acknowledged near-complete deafness and regained much hearing with a cochlear implant in 2001.
Reported eight-year contract at $31.25M/year (press report)
A 2001 article reported Limbaugh had an eight-year contract paying $31.25 million per year.
Admitted addiction to prescription painkillers; sought treatment
Publicly acknowledged addiction and entered treatment in 2003.
ESPN sports analyst stint and resignation
Briefly served as an NFL commentator for ESPN in 2003; resigned after controversial remarks about Donovan McNabb.
WBAL in Baltimore dropped Limbaugh's show
March 2006: WBAL became first major-market station to drop Limbaugh's nationally syndicated program.
Arrested on prescription-fraud warrant; later record expunged
Turned himself in on a warrant for prescription fraud (2006); record later expunged after treatment and legal resolution.
Cameo appearances and parodies (Family Guy, The 1/2 Hour News Hour)
Made cameo appearances and was parodied on television in 2007 and later (Family Guy episodes 2007–2011).
Named No. 1 in TALKERS Magazine 'Heavy Hundred'; earned $33M
TALKERS Magazine ranked him No.1 and media reported he earned about $33 million in 2007.
Signed $400M eight-year contract with Clear Channel
In 2008 Limbaugh signed an eight-year deal reported at $400 million, making him the highest-paid terrestrial radio broadcaster.
Married Kathryn Rogers (Kathryn Adams Limbaugh)
Fourth marriage; Kathryn later co-authored children's books with him.
Inducted into the Missouri Broadcasters Hall of Fame
Added to the Missouri Broadcasters Hall of Fame (inducted in 2011).
Cumulus contract negotiations; reports of possible show removal
Cumulus Media considered dropping the show when contract expired end of 2013; negotiations concluded with a move of flagship station.
Children's book 'Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims' (Rush Revere series begins)
Published children's time-travel/history book; launched Rush Revere series with wife Kathryn on subsequent titles (2013 onward).
Flagship moved from WABC to WOR (New York)
On January 1, 2014 his show moved to WOR in New York as its flagship outlet after contract negotiations.
Published Rush Revere children's books (series ongoing 2013–2016+)
Published multiple children's historical books with wife Kathryn (notable titles 2013–2016).
Signed four-year extension (of 2008 contract)
On August 2, 2016 Limbaugh signed a four-year extension of his 2008 deal; Premiere/iHeart cited audience and ad-revenue growth.
Reported earnings of $84.5M (Forbes)
Forbes listed Limbaugh's 2018 earnings at $84.5 million, making him the second-highest-paid radio personality worldwide that year.
Talkers Magazine estimates weekly audience at 15.5 million
In December 2019 Talkers Magazine estimated The Rush Limbaugh Show attracted a cumulative weekly audience of 15.5 million listeners.
Renewed contract (reported as 'long-term')
On January 5, 2020 Limbaugh renewed his contract; media called it long-term while President Trump said publicly it was a four-year deal.
Diagnosed with advanced lung cancer
Announced diagnosis of advanced lung cancer in February 2020.
Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom
President Donald Trump announced Limbaugh would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom during the 2020 State of the Union Address; award presented that evening.
Timeslot succession announced
In May 2021 Premiere Networks announced Clay Travis and Buck Sexton would take over Limbaugh's radio timeslot starting June 21, 2021 in many markets.
Commented on GameStop short squeeze
In January 2021 Limbaugh called the GameStop short squeeze 'the most fascinating thing' and praised retail investors.
Died in Palm Beach, Florida
Rush Limbaugh died of complications from advanced lung cancer on February 17, 2021; interred at Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis, Missouri.
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