Joel Osteen to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Osteen fans. Speculation had been rife that most watched televangelist in America is about to announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 63, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 05/05/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a religious figure isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a religious figure-author-television host just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouJoel

For a little while on Monday evening, #ThankYouJoel was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Joel Osteen was unlike any other religious figure we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouJoel”
— @universalObserver, 4 May 2026

“I thought Joel Osteen retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 4 May 2026

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