Rush Limbaugh Biography

(Conservative Political Commentator and Host of 'The Rush Limbaugh Show')

Birthday: January 12, 1951 (Capricorn)

Born In: Cape Girardeau, Missouri, United States

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Rush Hudson Limbaugh III, popularly known as Rush Limbaugh is a famous American radio personality, political commentator and author. He currently hosts his own talk show on ABC Radio Networks called ‘The Rush Limbaugh Show’ — the highest-rated talk-radio program in the United States. In 2008, he signed a contract extension through 2016, worth $400 million . The contract broke records for any broadcast and put him right amongst the highest paid people in the U.S. media. Starting a career in radio was a challenge for Limbaugh as he belonged to a family of professional lawyers and his father aspired for him to get into the same league as everyone else in the family. But he showed consistent passion towards radio since a young age and worked many radio jockey jobs in various cities of America. It was his job as a talk show host at KFBK in Sacramento, California, that made him one of the top radio hosts of the city, which is why ABC Radio hired him. Limbaugh’s conservative views and strong criticism of liberal policies and politicians is extremely famous among his listeners and he has not only publicized his opinions through radio but also through television and books — ‘The Way Things Ought to Be (1992)’ and ‘See, I Told You So (1993)’.

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Rush Hudson Limbaugh III

Died At Age: 70

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Marta Fitzgerald (m. 1994–2004), Michelle Sixta (m. 1982–1990), Roxy Maxine McNeely (m. 1977–1980)

father: Rush Limbaugh Sr.

mother: Mildred Limbaugh

Born Country: United States

Quotes By Rush Limbaugh Radio Personalities

political ideology: Republican

Died on: February 17, 2021

place of death: Palm Beach, Florida, United States

Ancestry: German American

Notable Alumni: Southeast Missouri State University

Diseases & Disabilities: Lung Cancer

Cause of Death: Lung Cancer

U.S. State: Missouri

Ideology: Republicans

More Facts

education: Southeast Missouri State University

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American CelebritiesAmerican MenMale Media PersonalitiesAmerican Media PersonalitiesCapricorn Men Childhood & Early LifeRush Limbaugh was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, to Mildred Carolyn ‘Millie’ and Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Jr. His father was a lawyer and a fighter pilot. He belonged to a family of professional lawyers.At 8, Limbaugh was determined to have a career in radio. Although his father was against his pursuits, he him bought a Remco Caravelle, a toy radio that could transmit on AM frequencies up to 500 feet away.His professional radio career started in 1967, while he was still in high school. He used the nom de plume ‘Rusty Sharpe’, and worked as a DJ for the local station KGMO, which was co-owned by his father.He later attended Southeast Missouri State University but left his college studies midway in 1971 to pursue a career in radio. Limbaugh moved to Pennsylvania and became a Top 40 music DJ on WIXZ.Continue Reading BelowCareerIn 1973, Limbaugh shifted to Pittsburgh radio station KQV. He was fired from the job within a year and was told that he was not good enough for the radio and should consider a career in sales instead.For the next decade, Limbaugh tried his luck at various other radio stations but he was thought to be too controversial for the radio. In 1979, he started working as a director of promotions with the Kansas City Royals.He again considered a career in radio in 1984 when he was hired as a talk show host at KFBK in Sacramento. After being declared as Sacramento’s top radio host, Limbaugh moved to New York to start his national radio show career.After the Federal Communications Commission repealed, the Fairness Doctrine rule was finally passed in 1987, which helped in shaping up Limbaugh’s politically conservative radio style. At ABC Radio Network, he became famous for his strong right winged ideologies.All his fame and strongly opinionated views on American politics helped ‘The Rush Limbaugh Show’ to become the highest rated American talk show program, by ABC Radio in 1988. This show has been running for two decades now.He diversified his career in entertainment and tried his hand at television broadcasting by doing a syndicated half-hour television show from 1992-96, a program that was produced by Roger Ailes. The show was an extension of his radio show.Limbaugh owns a majority of The Rush Limbaugh Show, which is syndicated by the Premiere Radio Networks. In 2008, he signed a contract extension through 2016, worth $400 million per year, which broke records for any broadcast.In 2003, he worked as a football commentator with ESPN for a brief period of time, before he was asked to resign when he made racist comments about the ‘unfair’ media hype that NFL footballer Donovan McNabb was getting.In 2010, Chicago's Second City produced ‘Rush Limbaugh: The Musical'—a musical parody of Limbaugh which integrated an imitation of several Broadway musicals. In the same year, he was a judge for the 2010 Miss America pageant, Las Vegas. Quotes: NeedMajor WorksAlthough Limbaugh’s radio career took off with KFBK, Sacramento and he was declared as the best talk show host, it was ‘The Rush Limbaugh Show’ with ABC Radio Networks, New York, that made him into a broadcasting star.Awards & AchievementsLimbaugh’s career in Radio earned him accolades like: Marconi Radio Award, William F. Buckley, Jr. Award for Media Excellence, CPAC's Defender of the Constitution Award, induction into National Radio Hall of Fame and Hall of Famous Missourians, etc.Personal Life & LegacyLimbaugh has married four times: Roxy Maxine McNeely (1977-1980), Michelle Sixta (1983-1990), Marta Fitzgerald (1994-2004) and Kathryn Rogers (2010-present). He does not have any children.TriviaIn 2003, Limbaugh made a confession to his listeners that he was addicted to prescribed painkillers. His addiction was attributed to the several years of his back pain.