Jim Bakker was a well-known American televangelist whose career included extraordinary success, public controversy, imprisonment and a later return to Christian broadcasting. His personal life was also closely followed, particularly his marriages to Tammy Faye Bakker and Lori Bakker.
Bakker was married twice during his life. His first marriage was to Tammy Faye Bakker, the charismatic television personality who became famous alongside him during the rise of the PTL ministry. After their divorce, Bakker eventually married Lori Beth Graham, who remained his wife until his death in October 2026.
The two marriages took place during very different periods of Bakker’s life. Tammy Faye was his partner during the years when PTL became a major religious television empire, while Lori was beside him during his later ministry career and final decades.
Who Was Jim Bakker’s First Wife?
Jim Bakker’s first wife was Tammy Faye Bakker, one of the most recognizable televangelists and Christian television personalities in the United States.
Jim and Tammy Faye met while attending North Central University. They married in 1961 and began building their lives and ministry together.
Tammy Faye was more than simply Bakker’s wife. She became a television personality in her own right, known for her distinctive appearance, emotional style and ability to connect with viewers.
The couple eventually became central figures in the Christian television movement that grew rapidly during the 1970s and 1980s.
Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker’s PTL Years
Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker helped create the Praise the Lord ministry, commonly known as PTL.
The ministry grew into a large television operation with millions of viewers and a significant following. The couple also developed Heritage USA, a Christian-themed resort and entertainment complex in South Carolina.
At the height of their success, PTL was a major name in American religious broadcasting.
Tammy Faye frequently appeared alongside Jim and became an important part of the ministry’s public image. Their television programs combined preaching, interviews, music and fundraising.
Their success, however, eventually came to an abrupt end.
The Scandal That Changed Their Lives
The PTL empire collapsed during a series of scandals in the late 1980s.
Jim Bakker faced allegations involving financial misconduct and other controversies surrounding the ministry. He was eventually convicted of federal charges related to the misuse of funds and spent years in prison.
The scandal had a profound impact on both his professional and personal life.
Tammy Faye remained a public figure during this period, but her relationship with Jim eventually came to an end. The couple divorced in 1992.
Their divorce happened while Bakker was still serving his federal prison sentence.
Despite the bitter circumstances surrounding the collapse of their marriage and ministry, Tammy Faye later developed a separate public identity and continued working in television and entertainment.
Did Jim Bakker Have Children With Tammy Faye?
Yes. Jim and Tammy Faye had two children together, Jay Bakker and Tammy Sue Bakker.
Their children grew up during a period when their parents were among the most recognizable figures in American televangelism.
Jay Bakker later became known as a pastor, author and speaker, while Tammy Sue also remained connected to the family’s public story.
The children experienced both the extraordinary success of PTL and the difficult aftermath of the scandal that brought the ministry down.
When Did Jim Bakker Marry Lori Bakker?
Jim Bakker married Lori Beth Graham on September 4, 1998.
Their marriage came several years after his divorce from Tammy Faye and after Bakker had served his prison sentence.
Lori entered his life during a very different chapter. By the time they married, Bakker was rebuilding his career and returning to Christian television.
Rather than becoming part of the massive PTL operation of the 1980s, Lori was associated with the ministry Bakker developed later in life.
Who Is Lori Bakker?
Lori Bakker, formerly Lori Beth Graham, became Jim Bakker’s second wife and remained with him for the rest of his life.
She became closely involved in his ministry and television work. Together, Jim and Lori founded Morningside Church in Blue Eye, Missouri.
The couple also hosted The Jim Bakker Show, continuing Bakker’s work in Christian television.
Lori was therefore not simply a spouse away from the ministry. She became an active partner in the later stage of his religious broadcasting career.
Jim and Lori Bakker’s Family
Jim and Lori Bakker built a family together and adopted five children.
Their family life became an important part of the couple’s later years, particularly as they continued their ministry from Morningside.
Lori often appeared alongside Jim during broadcasts and ministry events. Her presence was particularly notable because she remained with him through a period when his reputation was still shaped by the controversies surrounding his earlier career.
Their marriage lasted from 1998 until Jim’s death in 2026.
How Long Were Jim and Lori Bakker Married?
Jim and Lori Bakker were married for nearly 28 years.
They married on September 4, 1998, and remained together until Bakker’s death on October 5, 2026.
Their relationship therefore covered almost three decades and represented the longest marriage of Bakker’s life.
During those years, Lori was involved in his ministry, television work and family life.
Jim Bakker’s Final Years
In the later part of his life, Bakker continued working as a televangelist.
Through Morningside Church and The Jim Bakker Show, he remained active in Christian broadcasting and continued discussing religious subjects, current events and ministry-related issues.
His later career was very different from the enormous PTL operation he had led with Tammy Faye.
While his first ministry became associated with one of the biggest scandals in American televangelism, his later years were centered around rebuilding his religious work with Lori at his side.
Jim Bakker’s Death
Jim Bakker died on October 5, 2026, at the age of 86.
His death was announced publicly by Lori Bakker through his ministry platforms. His passing marked the end of a controversial and highly unusual career that had stretched across several decades.
From the rapid rise of PTL to prison, divorce and a return to television, Bakker’s life remained a subject of public interest.
Lori had been his wife for nearly three decades when he died and was part of the ministry and family life that defined his later years.
Tammy Faye and Lori Bakker Had Very Different Roles
Although Tammy Faye Bakker and Lori Bakker were both married to Jim Bakker, their roles in his life came during very different periods.
Tammy Faye was with Jim during his rise to national prominence. Together they created PTL and helped build Heritage USA into a major Christian attraction. Their marriage eventually ended after the ministry’s collapse and Jim’s legal troubles.
Lori married Jim after his release from prison and became part of his second chapter in Christian broadcasting.
She supported his later ministry and helped establish the family and religious life that followed his return to television.
In that sense, both women were important to different eras of Bakker’s life.
Jim Bakker’s Marriage Legacy
Jim Bakker’s marriage history is closely connected to the story of his career.
His first marriage to Tammy Faye lasted from 1961 until their divorce in 1992 and included the dramatic rise and fall of the PTL ministry. They had two children together and spent decades in the public eye.
His second marriage to Lori began in 1998 and lasted until his death in 2026. Together, they built Morningside Church, hosted The Jim Bakker Show and raised an adopted family of five children.
For people searching for information about Jim Bakker’s wife, it is important to distinguish between the two chapters. Tammy Faye was his first wife and his partner during the height of PTL, while Lori was his second and surviving wife, remaining beside him during his later ministry and final years.
Jim Bakker’s life was marked by remarkable highs and painful lows, but his two marriages remained important parts of his story. His relationship with Tammy Faye defined the early and most famous chapter of his career, while Lori became his partner during the long rebuilding period that followed.