Jim Bakker, who inspired songs by Ozzy, Genesis, dead at 86
Louder • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Jim Bakker, the influential televangelist known for hosting The PTL Club and inspiring songs like Genesis's "Jesus He Knows Me," has died at age 86, as confirmed by his wife Lori Bakker.
- Bakker rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s alongside his first wife, Tammy Faye, but his career ended amid scandal after he was convicted of mail fraud and other charges, leading to imprisonment from which he was released in 1994.
- The controversies surrounding Bakker and other televangelists inspired several songs criticizing their hypocrisy, including works by Genesis, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, and others.
- Tammy Faye Bakker, who also had a career in Christian music and publicly addressed the ministry's downfall, passed away in 2007.
- Lori Bakker described Jim Bakker as a devoted preacher and her lifelong partner, highlighting his 66 years dedicated to preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
