Ailing right-wing broadcaster Rush Limbaugh is taking Wednesday off from his nationally syndicated radio show as he continues battling lung cancer. The announcement was made by his producer James Golden, whom listeners know as Bo Snerdley.
© Jeff RobersonThis Nov. 5, 2018 file photo shows radio personality Rush Limbaugh introducing President Donald Trump at the start of a campaign rally in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
This Nov. 5, 2018 file photo shows radio personality Rush Limbaugh introducing President Donald Trump at the start of a campaign rally in Cape Girardeau, Mo. (Jeff Roberson/)
"Our prayers are with Rush as he continues to fight the illness he (h)as been afflicted with," Golden tweeted mid-morning Wednesday. "We are still praying for a remission. Today @KenMatthews will fill in for Rush. Thanks for all of your prayers, kind words and wishes for our Rush. God Bless you."
Limbaugh announced on Feb. 3, 2020, that he had been diagnosed with advanced lung cancer.
"There are going to be days that I'm not going to be able to be here because I'm undergoing treatment or I'm reacting to treatment," he told listeners.
Limbaugh was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former president Donald Trump, whose 2020 candidacy he supported. Trump's decision to grant Limbaugh that honor was met with criticism, considering the influential broadcaster's history of caustic remarks about women and minority groups.
Conservative commentator Ken Matthews said that he'd be filling in for Limbaugh when "The Rush Limbaugh Show" airs at noon.
"God Bless America," he tweeted. "Snopes is for Dopes."
Snopes.com is a fact-checking site that had on multiple occasions taken issues with Limbaugh's ruminations.
Limbaugh turned 70 in January. In his final show of 2020, he said he didn't expect to live this long after his grave diagnosis.
"I wasn't expected to make it to October and then to November and then to December and yet here I am," an emotional Limbaugh said.