Tamara `` Tammy '' Faye Messner ( March 7 , 1942 - July 20 , 2007 ) was an American Christian singer , evangelist , entrepreneur , author , talk show host , and television personality . Tamara Faye `` Tammy '' Bakker Messner ( March 7 , 1942 â `` July 20 , 2007 ) was an American Christian singer , evangelist , entrepreneur , author , talk show host , and television personality .