Jim Bakker, the televangelist whose scandal inspired rock anthems, dies at 86
Jim Bakker, the pioneering televangelist who co-founded the PTL empire and Heritage USA theme park, has died at age 86. His death was confirmed by his wife, Lori, who described him as a pioneer of Christian television. Bakker’s career was defined by a massive media empire in the 1980s that collapsed due to fraud and sexual misconduct scandals, leading to a federal prison sentence. His life and controversies also inspired several rock songs, including tracks by Ozzy Osbourne and Genesis.
