Tammy Faye Messner Dies at 65

Famed evangelist and media figure struggled with drugs, scandal
By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 22, 2007 7:48 AM CDT

Televangelist and Christian entertainer Tammy Faye Messner died Friday morning, CNN reports. She had struggled with drug addiction throughout her life and finally died of cancer. Messner had recently been a guest on Larry King Live, appearing precariously ill, claiming she could no longer swallow food and weighed only 65 pounds.

Messner and former husband Jim Bakker founded evangelical television network "The Praise the Lord Club," which at its peak held 12 million subscribers, as well as a popular hotel and theme-park destination. Their operation later folded due to a sex scandal and business improprieties on the part of Bakker. Messner recorded over 25 albums and authored several books. (More Christianity stories.)

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