Rush Hudson Limbaugh III (pron-en?l?mb??; born January 12, 1951) is an American radio host, conservative political commentator, and an influential opinion leader in the conservative movement in the United States (Conservatism in the United States). He hosts The Rush Limbaugh Show which is aired throughout the U.S. on Premiere Radio Networks and is the highest-rated talk-radio program (talk radio) in the United States.

He was born into a family (Limbaugh family) with a long history of involvement in Republican (Republican Party (United States)) politics and first began working at a local radio station at age sixteen. In 1984, after a series of radio related jobs, Limbaugh began working as a radio talk show host in Sacramento, California. His unique program featured no guests, relying exclusively on his conservative political analysis for content. He moved to New York City in 1988 where he began the national broadcast of his program on WABC (WABC (AM)) radio. His program grew in popularity and he began his rise to national fame.

In the 1990s, Limbaugh?s fame grew beyond radio, into publishing and television. He became a bestselling author (New York Times Best Seller list) with his books The Way Things Ought to Be (1992) and See, I Told You So (1993). From 1992 to 1996, Limbaugh hosted a half-hour television talk show.

Limbaugh is a controversial figure in American politics and media. He frequently accuses the American mainstream media of having a strong liberal bias, criticizes liberal (Liberalism in the United States) policies and politicians, and promotes conservative positions.