In the early 1970s, a young, ambitious Tammy Faye finds herself captivated by religion and performance. She marries Jim Bakker, a charismatic preacher, and together they embark on a journey to revolutionize televised evangelical programs. The couple quickly gains fame, driven by Tammy Faye's distinctive style and sincere emotional expression on camera. As their influence grows, they create a vast Christian broadcast empire with successful shows like "The PTL Club" and eventually establish the first Christian theme park. Behind the scenes, however, pressures mount. The couple faces financial difficulties and scrutiny from other religious figures who disagree with their welcoming message and extravagant lifestyle.

Tammy Faye also struggles to reconcile her personal faith with the increasing commercialism around them. Her marriage with Jim begins to show cracks under the weight of public image and controversies, including scandals about finances and infidelity. The narrative delves into Tammy's unwavering dedication to spreading love and acceptance despite the challenges. She becomes noted for her open-armed approach toward marginalized communities, even when it alienates her from parts of the conservative Christian world. As pressures from both inside and outside threaten to drown her, Tammy fights to maintain her genuine compassion amid the darker facets of fame. The film intimately examines how her personal beliefs intertwine with and sometimes conflict against the burgeoning media empire they’ve built.