Tammy Faye Messner

Life Story

Tammy Faye Messner (March 7 1942- July 20 2007) spent over 30 years in television as an evangelist, talk show host, and Christian singer. Along with former husband Jim Bakker, Messner co-hosted “The 700 Club” for seven years beginning in 1966 and created The PTL club whose initials stood for Praise the Lord/ People That Love in 1974. The PTL venture later expanded into a telvision network and was carried on over 1300 cable systems with 12 million subscribers during its height. The couple’s Heritage USA theme park was opened in conjuction with the PTL Club network and had over 6 million visitors annually making it the third most popular attraction after Walt Disney World and Disneyland. Messner proved she could stand without Bakker in 1996 when she co-hosted the syndicated “Jim J. and Tammy Faye Show” with Jim Bullock. She recorded over 25 singing albums and authored three best-selling books,”Tammy: Telling It My Way,” “I Gotta Be Me,” and “Run To the Roar.”

Messner was born Tammy Faye La Valley in International Falls, Minnesota. She was the eldest of eight children and came from a devoutly Christian home. She attended North Central Bible College in Minneapolis where she met first husband Jim Bakker. The two dated and then married in 1961 despite rules against marriage at the Bible college. They were forced to drop out but spent the next few years preaching in various cities across America until they met Pat Robertson in the mid-1960s. That meeting launched Messner's career as co-host of “The 700 Club.”

Tammy Faye has made numerous guest appearances on television shows including “CBS This Morning,” “Good Morning America,” “Prime Time,” and “The Drew Carey Show.” Her last television appearance was on “Larry King Live” just days before her lost against lung cancer in 2007. She is survived by husband, Roe Messner; daughter, Tammy Sue Bakker Chapman; and son, Jay Bakker, who continues her legacy by working as an evangelist.