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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Televangelists and Unlikely Gay and Drag Icons

    Jan Crouch and her late husband Paul collaborated with the late Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker when Trinity Broadcasting Network began four decades ago. And despite their pious preachiness, the two televangelist wives ended up inspiring many a drag queen thanks to their tarantula lashes, painted-on brows, and melodramatic altar-call performances.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Jun 2, 2016 • 1 min read

    Jan Crouch and her late husband Paul collaborated with the late Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker when Trinity Broadcasting Network began four decades ago. And despite their pious preachiness, the two televangelist wives ended up inspiring many a drag queen thanks to their tarantula lashes, painted-on brows, and melodramatic altar-call performances. In fact, the women have reached icon status in the drag and gay community. How and why did these two preachy Christian ladies come to be embraced by the gay and drag communities?

    The full episode

    5 of 5
    The Unlikely Influence of Televangelism
    1. 0:30Two Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide at UCLA
    2. 6:21Are Special Ed Kids Getting the Education They Deserve?
    3. 18:32Teaching Across Economic and Cultural Divides
    4. 32:49The State of Televangelism
    5. 41:43Televangelists and Unlikely Gay and Drag IconsYou’re reading this
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Matt Holzman

      Producer, 'The Document'

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jolie Myers

      Managing Producer, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Fenton Bailey

      producer and director

      News

    The full episode

    5 of 5
    The Unlikely Influence of Televangelism
    1. 0:30Two Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide at UCLA
    2. 6:21Are Special Ed Kids Getting the Education They Deserve?
    3. 18:32Teaching Across Economic and Cultural Divides
    4. 32:49The State of Televangelism
    5. 41:43Televangelists and Unlikely Gay and Drag IconsYou’re reading this
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand