Who Was Tammy Faye Bakker?

Recognized for her heavy face makeup, colorful outfits, and mascara-stained tears that would fall down her face upon emotional prayer, Tammy Faye Bakker was no stranger to being in the public eye. Best-known for her role on the Christian ministry talk show she built with her then-husband Jim Bakker, Praise the Lord, Tammy was in every sense a television icon. Reaching approximately 13 million homes, PTL Network thrust the Bakker’s into the spotlight. Now the subject of a new biopic starring our Centennial Issue coverstar Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, releasing September 17, discover the true backstory of the unforgettable televangelist.

Tammy Faye married her first husband, Jim Bakker, in April 1961. Together, the couple founded and developed their Praise the Lord Network, often known by their devoted followers as the Jim and Tammy Show and built Heritage USA–a religious theme park in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Though adored by many, the Bakker’s were often criticized for the contradiction between their frivolous expenses and the Christian message of their talk show. This criticism remained consistent throughout their lives.

Early in their joint career, things fell apart.

It became public that Tammy had experienced a breakdown—later announcing that she had been treated for a drug addiction. Following the news that that Jim Bakker had had sexual relations with a young church secretary in 1980—and had paid her $265,000 to stay silent on the subject—the Bakkers rapidly became less beloved. In 1989, Jim  was charged with conspiracy and fraud, and was sentenced to 45 years of prison.

In 1992, following the bankruptcy of PTL Network, the inprisonment of Jim, and the rapid decline of the once wildly successful Heritage USA theme park, Tammy filed for divorce from Jim and married Roe Messner in 1993. Messner would later go to prison on his own accounts of bankruptcy fraud.

She was also an unlikely supporter of the gay community. Starring on the Jim J. and Tammy Faye Show with gay actor Jim. J Bullock and attending gay Pride events solidified Tammy as an important ally and symbol of camp within the gay community. 

Though her broadcast television career was laced with widespread criticism, Tammy will be forgotten by very few.