Glenn Beck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Glenn Beck
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Beck in 2024
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| Born |
Glenn Lee Beck
February 10, 1964 Everett, Washington, U.S.
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| Occupation | Talk show host, political commentator, producer, entrepreneur |
| Political party | Republican (before 2014) Independent (2014–present) |
| Movement | Conservatism |
| Spouse(s) |
Claire
(m. 1983; div. 1994)Tania
(m. 1999) |
| Children | 4 |
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Glenn Lee Beck (born February 10, 1964) is an American political commentator, radio host, and businessman. He is known for his conservative views. Beck is the founder of TheBlaze, a media network where he hosts a radio and television show.
Beck has hosted the Glenn Beck Radio Program since 2002. He also had a popular television show on Fox News from 2009 to 2011. He has written several books that have become New York Times bestsellers. His work has earned him both praise and criticism. Supporters see him as a strong voice for American values, while critics disagree with his style and ideas.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Glenn Beck was born in Everett, Washington. His family later moved to Mount Vernon, Washington, where they owned a bakery. He was raised as a Roman Catholic.
When Beck was 15, his mother died in a boating accident. After this, he and his sister moved to Bellingham, Washington, to live with their father. Beck graduated from Sehome High School in 1982. After high school, he decided to work in radio instead of going to college. He got his first radio job at a station in Provo, Utah.
Personal Life
Beck married his first wife, Claire, in 1983. They have two daughters, Mary and Hannah. The couple divorced in 1994.
In 1996, Beck took a theology class at Yale University. He was recommended by Senator Joe Lieberman, who was a fan of his radio show. Beck later said he went on a "spiritual quest" to find answers about faith.
In 1999, he married his second wife, Tania. They looked for a church together and decided to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that same year. Beck and Tania have two children.
In 2010, Beck shared that he was diagnosed with macular dystrophy, an eye condition that can make it hard to see clearly. In 2011, his family moved to Westlake, Texas, a suburb near Dallas.
Career in Media
In 2002, Beck started his own company called Mercury Radio Arts. The company produces all of his shows, books, and websites. It was named after the Mercury Theatre, a group that made famous radio shows in the 1930s.
Radio Host
Beck's radio career began in the 1980s. He worked at several Top-40 music stations in cities like Louisville, Kentucky, and Phoenix, Arizona. His early shows were mostly for entertainment and included jokes and pranks.
In 2000, his career shifted toward political talk radio. He started the Glenn Beck Program in Tampa, Florida. The show quickly became very popular. By 2002, it was broadcast on 47 stations across the country. By 2008, his show was heard on over 280 stations and was one of the most popular radio programs in the United States.
Television Host
In 2006, Beck began hosting a show on CNN's Headline News. His show offered a different and often funny look at the day's news. It became the second-most-watched show on the network.
In 2009, Beck moved to the Fox News Channel. His show, also called Glenn Beck, was very successful. It often had more viewers than all of its competitors combined. However, his strong opinions and style also created controversy. Some people felt his comments were too extreme for a news channel.
In 2011, Beck left Fox News to start his own media network. He said his show had become "a movement" and no longer belonged on a traditional TV channel.
TheBlaze Network
After leaving Fox News, Beck launched TheBlaze in 2011. It started as an online subscription service called GBTV. The network grew quickly and now includes a website, television channel, and radio network. Beck hosts his own shows on TheBlaze and produces other programs as well.
Books and Stage Shows
Beck is a successful author. He has written books on politics, history, and personal growth. He has also written fiction novels and children's books. Several of his books have reached number one on The New York Times bestseller list.
Since 2005, Beck has toured the country with live stage shows. These shows combine comedy, storytelling, and inspirational speeches. Some of his tours have been broadcast live in movie theaters across the U.S.
Rallies and Projects
Beck has organized several large public events. These rallies often focus on themes of faith, patriotism, and personal responsibility.
- 9-12 Project: In 2009, Beck started the 9-12 Project. It was named for the nine principles and twelve values he believes Americans shared on September 12, 2001, the day after the September 11 attacks. The project encourages people to be active in their communities.
- Restoring Honor Rally: In 2010, Beck hosted a large rally at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.. The event's purpose was to honor military members and promote faith and patriotism. An estimated 87,000 people attended.
- Restoring Courage Tour: In 2011, Beck held events in Jerusalem, Israel. The tour was meant to show support for the Jewish people.
Political Views
Beck describes himself as a conservative with libertarian ideas. He believes in personal responsibility, limited government, and freedom of religion. He supports the right to own guns and is against high government debt.
Views on Progressivism
Beck is a strong critic of progressivism. He argues that the progressive movement, which began in the early 20th century, has harmed the country. He believes it gives the government too much power and takes away individual freedoms. In his books and on his shows, he has often said that progressivism is a "disease" that is "eating our Constitution."
Historians like Sean Wilentz have criticized Beck's views on history. They say his ideas are not accurate and are similar to older, extreme political theories.
Views on Barack Obama
During Barack Obama's presidency, Beck was one of his biggest critics. He often accused the president and his administration of trying to expand government power too much. In 2009, Beck made controversial comments suggesting that President Obama was a "racist." He later apologized for these remarks, saying he has a "big fat mouth" and had misspoken.
Charity Work
In 2011, Beck started a nonprofit organization called Mercury One. Its goal is to provide humanitarian aid and encourage people to help others.
In 2014, Mercury One organized an effort to bring food and supplies to children who had crossed the U.S. southern border alone. Beck said that while he wanted stronger border laws, it was also important to show compassion to children in need.
The charity also runs the Nazarene Fund, which helps Christian refugees escape from war-torn areas in the Middle East.
Works
Non-fiction
- Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Simon & Schuster 2009. ISBN: 978-1-4391-6857-8.
- Arguing with Idiots: How to Stop Small Minds and Big Government, Simon & Schuster 2009. ISBN: 978-1-4165-9501-4.
- Broke: The Plan to Restore Our Trust, Truth, and Treasure, Simon & Schuster 2010. ISBN: 1-4423-3457-6.
- The 7: Seven Wonders That Will Change Your Life, Keith Ablow, co-author; Threshold Editions, 2011; ISBN: 978-1-4516-2551-6.
- The Original Argument: The Federalists' Case for the Constitution, Adapted for the 21st Century, with Joshua Charles; Threshold Editions, 2011; ISBN: 978-1-4516-5061-7.
- Liars: How Progressives Exploit Our Fears for Power and Control, Threshold Editions 2016. ISBN: 978-1-4767-9885-1
- Addicted to Outrage: How Thinking Like a Recovering Addict Can Heal the Country, Threshold Editions 2018. ISBN: 978-1-4767-9886-8
- The Great Reset: Joe Biden and the Rise of Twenty-First-Century Fascism, Justin Haskins, co-author; Forefront Books, 2021; ISBN: 978-1-6376-3059-4.
Fiction
- The Christmas Sweater, Simon & Schuster 2008. ISBN: 978-1-4165-9485-7.
- The Overton Window, Threshold Editions J2010. ISBN: 978-1-4391-8430-1
- The Eye of Moloch, Threshold Editions June 2013. ISBN: 978-1-4516-3583-6
- Agenda 21: Into the Shadows, Threshold Editions 2015. ISBN: 978-1-4767-4682-1
- The Immortal Nicholas, Mercury Ink 2015. ISBN: 978-1-4767-9884-4
Children's
- The Christmas Sweater: A Picture Book, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 2009. ISBN: 978-1-4169-9543-2.
See also
In Spanish: Glenn Beck para niños
- Conservative talk radio
- List of most-listened-to radio programs
