Tammy Faye Bakkers son Jay has seen many projects about his famous familys history throughout the years, but the new Elton John Broadway show holds a special place in his heart.
Bakker, 48, grew up amid the rise and fall of 1980s televangelists Jim and Tammy Faye, experiencing first the success of the familys business, and then its traumatic public demise.
His familys story has been kept alive by many movies and documentaries - most recently, the musical Tammy Faye, which premiered in New York this week after a successful run in London.
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Bakker shared that Elton has been like a grandfather figure to him, and took great care in retelling Tammy Fayes complex story.
Hes always just checking in on me and like, "are you happy? Are you OK?" Bakker shared of the megastar musician, adding that he also enjoys a close friendship with his husband, David Furnish.
Bakker continued: Were really close and Eltons always just kind of the grandparent checking on you, making sure youre happy, making sure the play is right and he has just such a reverence and love for my mom...
Just every time he sees me, he grabs me and hugs me. So its really surreal, too, because its, you know, Elton John.
While Bakker experienced wealth at a young age thanks to his parents businesses, he said he lives a very average life, and thus Eltons insistence that he be included in the play was meaningful.
Tammy Faye Bakkers son Jay Bakker, 48, was in New York to support the opening of the new Broadway show about his mother
In an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, Bakker shared that Elton has been like a grandfather figure to him, and took great care in retelling Tammy Fayes complex story. They are seen at the Thursday premiere of the new Broadway musical, Tammy Faye
Elton John, Jay Bakker and David Furnish attend the opening night of the new Elton John musical Tammy Faye on Broadway at The Palace Theatre on Thursday
[The cast and producers of the play] really embraced me. That was one of the great things about this show, Bakker shared.
I felt like the cast kind of almost made me an honorary member, and just like like a little mascot, something they all love, and, you know, I live paycheck to paycheck, like 60 percent of Americans in this world... they just made me feel really welcomed and really loved.
The play, titled Tammy Faye, originally launched in Londons West end in 2022.
Bakker was pictured beaming with Elton at the premiere on Thursday.
He described watching the show as overwhelming and mind blowing - and said he really felt like it was celebrating his moms legacy.
It is, you know, difficult to watch your parents get divorced on stage and watch your mom pass away on stage, he continued.
I was actually in Brooklyn when my mom passed away. I was on my stoop waiting for a car to take me to fly out to see her when I got the call that she had passed.
So theres something a little bit therapeutic about kind of seeing that moment played out in a way thats kind of angelic and and beautiful. Its kind of like kind of a little bit of a closure I didnt get before, he added.
Tammy Fayes life has been the subject of much speculation, taking center stage in an Oscar-winning film starring Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield.
Back in the 1980s, Tammy Faye, who died in 2007 at 65, electrified congregations with her elaborately coiffed hair and outlandish fluttery eyelashes.
But unlike many televangelists of the time, she was kind to gay people and AIDS sufferers, making her a camp hero to many in the LGBT community.
The former couples evangelical empire included bestselling books, music, and a Christian theme park called Heritage USA.
Jay is pictured with his famous televangelist parents and older sister, Tammy Sue
Bakker became a pastor and founded an Jay became a pastor and founded an online, LGBTQ-affirming church called Revolution.
Tammy Faye Bakker holds the arm of her son Jamie Bakker as they walk to the prison in Rochester, Minnesota, to visit her husband, former televangelist Jim Bakker, in 1989
Things came crashing down after a string of scandals, which included everything from misappropriating church funds to paying PTL secretary Jessica Hahn $279,000 in hush money following an alleged sexual encounter.
The couple divorced after Jim was indicted on mail fraud and wire fraud in 1988 and sentenced to 45 years in prison. He was freed after serving five years following a successful sentence-reduction hearing.
Tammy Faye went onto marry construction boss Roe Messner, taking his surname. The couple remained happily married until her death from cancer in 2007.
The son, on his part, became a pastor and founded an online, LGBTQ-affirming church called Revolution.
While the couple was said to live in tasteless opulence, their son told DailyMail.com that is a misconception.
Jake Shears, Christian Borle, Katie Brayben, Elton John and Michael Cerveris during the opening night curtain call for Tammy Faye
Bakker revealed that he still has some of his mothers belongings in storage, including her famed eye-lashes.
He also recalled how one of the last things they did together was go to the mall to pick out her eyeglasses.
Everybody thinks they were like living this crazy high life. But, you know, I often think about how my moms favorite restaurants were like Applebees, right? Bakker said on Friday.
She loved to go to like, Chilis and T .J. Maxx and all that stuff. Even when my family was on top, they were like, "hey, everybody, were going to the Red Lobster."
We were a little bit of like, I dont know, if white trash would be the appropriate word.