- In full:
- Rush Hudson Limbaugh III
- Born:
- January 12, 1951, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S.
- Died:
- February 17, 2021, Palm Beach, Florida (aged 70)
- Awards And Honors:
- Presidential Medal of Freedom (2020)
Rush Limbaugh
-
Who was Rush Limbaugh?
Rush Limbaugh (1951â2021) was a prominent American radio personality, author, and conservative political commentator known for his controversial views.
Limbaugh began his radio career at age 16. After working at various stations, he gained popularity at KFBK in Sacramento and, in 1988, launched The Rush Limbaugh Show in New York City. His program reached an estimated 20 million listeners weekly within five years.
Limbaugh often stirred controversy with his remarks, targeting groups such as feminists and Democrats. Despite this, he remained influential among Republicans, and he supported Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump. Limbaugh is the author of The Way Things Ought to Be (1992) and the Rush Revere childrenâs series. In 1993, he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame. In February 2020, he announced he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Shortly after, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What type of radio show was Rush Limbaugh known for hosting?
Rush Limbaugh was an American radio personality known for The Rush Limbaugh Show, which debuted in 1988. Within five years, the three-hour program became the most popular talk show on radio, reaching an estimated 20 million listeners weekly. His radio show was known for its conservative political commentary, satire, and Limbaugh's on-air persona. He rarely had guests, and his screened callers were among his fans, known as "dittoheads." His commentaries often targeted groups such as feminists, the homeless, and the Democratic Party.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What topics did Rush Limbaugh often discuss on his show?
Rush Limbaugh was known for his ultraconservative views, which he shared through political commentary, satire, and personal anecdotes on The Rush Limbaugh Show. He frequently discussed and often criticized groups such as feminists, who he referred to as "Feminazis," the Democratic Party, and the homeless. He was a vocal advocate for conservative politics and politicians, including Presidents George W. Bush and Donald Trump. Limbaugh's commentaries often sparked controversy, such as his 2003 comments about quarterback Donovan McNabb, but he exerted considerable influence among Republicans.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did Rush Limbaugh become influential in American politics?
Rush Limbaugh, an American radio personality, gained influence through his ultraconservative views and political commentary.
His radio program, The Rush Limbaugh Show, which debuted in 1988, became the most popular talk show within five years, reaching approximately 20 million listeners weekly. Limbaugh's style involved conservative political commentary, satire, and a focus on himself, with few guests and dedicated fans known as "dittoheads." He often targeted groups such as feminists and the Democratic Party, which stirred controversy.
Despite controversies, Limbaugh significantly influenced the Republican Party. He was credited with helping Republicans win control of Congress in 1994 and was a key figure in the impeachment efforts against President Bill Clinton. He supported President George W. Bush and galvanized Republican opposition to President Barack Obama's stimulus package in 2009. Limbaugh also vocally advocated for President Donald Trump.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What books did Rush Limbaugh write, and what were they about?
Rush Limbaugh, the American radio personality and author, is known for his conservative views. He wrote The Way Things Ought to Be (1992) and See, I Told You So (1993), both of which became bestsellers. Additionally, he penned the childrenâs series Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans, which includes:
- Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims (2013)
- Rush Revere and the First Patriots (2014)
- Rush Revere and the American Revolution (2014)
- Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner (2015)
- Rush Revere and the Presidency (2016)
Some of these books were co-written with his wife, Kathryn Adams Limbaugh.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
How did Rush Limbaugh's views and style affect radio and political commentary in the United States?
Rush Limbaugh, an American radio personality and author, significantly impacted radio and political commentary in the United States through his ultraconservative and often controversial views.
His radio show, which debuted in 1988, reached an estimated 20 million listeners weekly within five years, becoming the most popular talk show on radio. Limbaugh's style included conservative political commentary, satire, and a focus on himself, with very few guests and screened callers, known as "dittoheads." He often targeted groups such as feminists, the homeless, and the Democratic Party, which caused outrage.
Despite controversies, Limbaugh exerted great influence among many Republicans and helped galvanize Republican opposition to a stimulus package proposed by President Barack Obama.
1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Rush Limbaugh (born January 12, 1951, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, U.S.âdied February 17, 2021, Palm Beach, Florida) was an American radio personality and author known for his ultraconservative and often controversial views.
Limbaugh was the older of two sons of a prominent Cape Girardeau family. At age 16 he began working at the local radio station before and after school. After graduation from high school, he attended Southeast Missouri State University for one year and then dropped out. He left home in 1971 to pursue a career in radio, but, after being fired from stations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Kansas City, Missouri, he quit radio in 1978 to work in ticket sales for the Kansas City Royals professional baseball team. After five years he was back in radio as a news commentator, but he was fired for being too controversial. However, his ad-libbing appealed to station KFBK in Sacramento, California, which was looking to replace the outgoing Morton Downey, Jr., who exhibited a wild and often offensive style. Limbaugh was hired in 1984, and within a year he became the top radio host in Sacramento.
In 1988 EFM Media Management signed Limbaugh to a two-year contract, and he moved to New York City, where The Rush Limbaugh Show debuted on August 1. Within five years the three-hour program became the most popular talk show on radio, reaching an estimated 20 million listeners weekly. Limbaugh filled his programs with conservative political commentary, satire, and a heavy dose of Limbaugh himself; he rarely, if ever, had guests, and his screened callers were among his legion of fans known as âdittoheads.â His daily commentaries often enraged the groups he targetedâincluding feminists (whom he called âFeminazisâ), whose movement Limbaugh once said was established âto allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstreamâ; the homeless, the vast majority of whom, he insisted, were âdemented in one way or anotherâ; and the Democratic Party, which he claimed was âthe party that canât wait to fund every abortion in the world.â
In 2003, while working as a sports analyst for ESPN, Limbaugh caused an uproar after making race-related comments about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. Limbaugh declared that the âmedia has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this team that he didnât deserve.â Limbaugh ultimately resigned from the sports channel. Soon after, he entered a rehabilitation facility for an addiction to painkillers. In 2006 he was arrested for drug fraud after authorities alleged that he âdoctor shoppedâ (illegally obtained prescriptions from multiple physicians). Limbaugh later reached a deal with prosecutors, and the charges were dropped after he received treatment.
Despite such controversies, Limbaugh exerted great influence among many Republicans. In 1994 he was credited with helping the Republican Party win control of both houses of Congress, and four years later he was a key figure in the efforts to impeach Pres. Bill Clinton. He was a major supporter of the administration of Pres. George W. Bush (2001â09), and in 2009 Limbaugh helped galvanize Republican opposition to a stimulus package proposed by Pres. Barack Obama and the Democrats. In 2008 he signed an eight-year deal worth some $400 million to remain on the radio, and he renewed his contract in 2016. He subsequently was a vocal advocate for Pres. Donald Trump.
Limbaugh wrote the best-selling books The Way Things Ought to Be (1992) and See, I Told You So (1993). He also penned the childrenâs series Time-Travel Adventures with Exceptional Americans: Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims (2013), Rush Revere and the First Patriots (2014), Rush Revere and the American Revolution (2014), Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner (2015), and Rush Revere and the Presidency (2016); several of the books were written with his wife, Kathryn Adams Limbaugh. In 1993 he was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame. In February 2020 Limbaugh announced that he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. Shortly thereafter he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.