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Jana Kramer
Jana Kramer 2014.jpg
Kramer in 2014
Born
Jana Rae Kramer

(1983-12-02) December 2, 1983 (age 41)
Occupation
  • Singer
  • actress
Years active 2002–present
Spouse(s)
  • Michael Gambino
    (m. 2004; div. 2004)
  • Johnathon Schaech
    (m. 2010; div. 2011)
  • Mike Caussin
    (m. 2015; div. 2021)
Partner(s) Allan Russell (2022-present; engaged)
Children 3

Jana Rae Kramer (born December 2, 1983) is an American country singer and actress. She is known for her role as Alex Dupre on the television series One Tree Hill.

Kramer began her musical career in 2012 and has released two albums: Jana Kramer (2012) and Thirty One (2015). The albums produced seven charted singles on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, including the top 10 hits "Why Ya Wanna" and "I Got the Boy". She competed on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars, finishing in fourth place.

Early life

Kramer was born in Rochester Hills, Michigan, to Nora and Martin Kramer, who is of German descent. Kramer attended Rochester Adams High School. She speaks some German. She has an older brother, Steve, who is a sergeant at the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. She lived in Dearborn, Michigan for sometime after her parents divorced. She moved to California when she was 18 for two years, then moved to Tennessee.

Career

2002–2011: Acting career and record deal

In 2002, Kramer made her acting debut in the low-budget independent horror film Dead/Undead. The following year Kramer guest appeared on All My Children, which marked Kramer's television debut. Kramer has since continued to appear in a number of television shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice and CSI: NY. She has also had small supporting roles in films such as Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis, Click, Prom Night, Heart of the Country, and Country Crush. She was also in Spring Breakdown.

In 2007, Kramer appeared in a recurring role on the NBC sports drama television series Friday Night Lights. She played the role of Noelle Davenport in the series' second season. In 2008, Kramer appeared in The CW teen drama series 90210, a reboot of the 1990s teen drama television series Beverly Hills 90210. Kramer played the role of high school student Portia Ranson and made her debut in the first season's second episode "The Jet Set". Her role went on for six episodes and Kramer made her final appearance in "The Party's Over", which aired May 5, 2009. In 2009, Kramer appeared on the HBO dramedy television series Entourage.

In June 2009, it was announced Kramer would star in the CW drama television series seventh season of One Tree Hill. Kramer played the role of Alex Dupre, an actress and tabloid darling who becomes the new face of Brooke Davis's fashion line, "Clothes Over Bros", and creates havoc for the residents of Tree Hill. Kramer made her debut in the season's first episode. Initially Kramer's appearance on the show was meant to be in a recurring form, but her role was upgraded to a series regular by the season's fourteenth episode, "Family Affair". In March 2012, Kramer announced she would not appear regularly in the show's ninth and final season in order to pursue her music career. Kramer made her final appearance in the second episode of the ninth season, "In the Room Where You Sleep", which aired on January 18, 2012.

In February 2011, Kramer signed a recording contract with Elektra Records. That same month she premiered her promo track, "I Won't Give Up", which premiered in the One Tree Hill episode, "Holding Out for a Hero", and was released the following day exclusively on iTunes and Amazon. The song reached number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The following month Kramer began work on her debut album. Country music producer Scott Hendricks produced the majority of the record. In April 2011, Kramer released another promo track, titled "Whiskey", which she also performed on One Tree Hill. The song reached number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on digital sales alone.

2012–2018: Jana Kramer, and Dancing with the Stars

In February 2012, Kramer was cast as the protagonist in the independent drama film, Heart of the Country, playing the role of a privileged young woman, Faith Carraday, who is following her show-biz dreams but leaves it all and moves to rural North Carolina after her husband is jailed for Wall Street fraud. Kramer is also attached to a horror film named The Gatekeeper.

Jana Kramer 2019 by Glenn Francis
Jana Kramer at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles.

On January 16, 2012, Kramer released her official debut single, "Why Ya Wanna". Kramer premiered the official music video, directed by Kristin Barlowe, on February 6, 2012. The song peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. "Whiskey" is the album's second official single. On June 1, 2012, Kramer made her first televised live performance on Fox & Friends to promote her debut album. She performed "Why Ya Wanna" in front of a crowd of fans in New York City. On June 5, 2012, Kramer released her self-titled debut album Jana Kramer. The record received positive reviews from critics with many praising Kramer's vocal performance.

On June 5, 2013, Nationwide Insurance released the first of a series of commercials in its "Join the Nation" campaign, featuring Kramer as a stealthy woman dressed in black leather who follows a team of burglars and replaces the items they steal with newer versions to promote Nationwide's "Brand New Belongings" initiative. Nationwide had signed Kramer to sing the Nationwide jingle in August 2012. A second commercial, released in April 2014, featured Kramer's character replacing items in a fire-blackened apartment to promote Nationwide's renters' insurance. ..... Nationwide's advertising partner McKinney is behind the spots.

In July 2013, Kramer opened for Blake Shelton on his Ten Times Crazier Tour in Virginia Beach, VA. In August 2013, the independent film Approaching Midnight starring Kramer had its world premiere at the Emagine Royal Oak in Michigan.

In 2024, Jana Kramer starred in the Lifetime movie Gaslit By My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story as Morgan Metzer where she was also the executive producer. It is based on the true story on how Morgan was gaslit by her ex-husband Rodney Metzer (portrayed by Austin Nichols).

Personal life

Kramer married Michael Gambino in 2004. They divorced several months later, after Kramer suffered severe domestic abuse that led to Gambino's 2005 conviction on attempted murder charges. On December 22, 2009, Kramer became engaged to actor Johnathon Schaech, whom she had met on the set of Prom Night. They married on July 4, 2010, in Michigan. The couple separated a month later. Their divorce was finalized in June 2011. Kramer met country music singer Brantley Gilbert in June 2012 CMT Music Awards. They later began dating and became engaged on January 20, 2013, his 28th birthday, but ended their relationship in August 2013.

In August 2014, Kramer began dating Washington Redskins tight end Mike Caussin, whom she met on Twitter. ..... Shortly after, she publicly forgave him and they reconciled. Kramer and Caussin became engaged in December 2014 on her 31st birthday, and were married on May 22, 2015.

On August 10, 2015, the couple revealed they were expecting their first child. Kramer gave birth to her daughter on January 31, 2016. ..... They reconciled the following year and renewed their wedding vows in December 2017. ..... In July of that year, Kramer announced she was expecting her second child. Kramer gave birth to her first son on November 29, 2018.

..... Two days after the pair split, a temporary restraining order was issued. On May 20, 2021, it was reported that Kramer and Caussin reached an agreement with custody and child support. Kramer was awarded primary custody, according to the documents. The divorce was finalized on July 22, 2021.

From September 2021 to October 2021, Kramer dated former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. From late 2021 to April 2022, Kramer dated fitness trainer and Navy veteran Ian Schinelli.

In January 2023, Kramer publicly confirmed via Instagram her relationship with Allan Russell, a former Scottish soccer player who created Superior Striker, a coaching program. On May 25, 2023, it was confirmed the two were engaged after six months of dating. On June 8, 2023, the couple confirmed via Instagram that they are expecting their first child together. Kramer gave birth to her second son on November 13, 2023.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Dead/Undead Alice St. James
2003 The Passage Bartender at Alvin's
Blood Games Mistress Tiamat Credited as Jana Rae
2005 Blue Demon Carrie
Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis Katie Williams
2006 Click Julie
2007 Boxboarders! Victoria
2008 Prom Night April
Bar Starz Ryann
The Poker Club Trudy Todaro
2009 Laid to Rest Jamie
Spring Breakdown Seven #2
2013 Heart of the Country Faith Carraday
Approaching Midnight Aspen
2016 Country Crush Katherine
2018 Support the Girls Shaina

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 CSI: NY Paige Rowand Episode 3.10: "Sweet 16"
2007 Friday Night Lights Noelle Davenport 7 episodes
2008 Can You Duet Herself Episode 1.01 "Open Auditions"
Episode: "Workshop Week 1"
Grey's Anatomy Lola Episode: "Freedom" (Parts 1 & 2)
2008–09 90210 Portia Ranson 5 episodes
2009 Private Practice Lyla Episode 2.19: "What Women Want"
Entourage Brooke Manning 3 episodes
2009–12 One Tree Hill Alex Dupre Main role in seasons 7–9 (43 episodes)
2013 Dance Moms Herself Episode 4.01: "Welcome Back... Now Don't Get Too Comfy"
2016 Dancing with the Stars Herself Contestant on season 23
Country Crush Katherine Television film
2017 Love at First Bark Julia Television film (Hallmark)
Christmas in Mississippi Holly Logan Television film (Lifetime)
2019 Christmas in Louisiana Sarah Winter Television film (Lifetime)
2020 A Welcome Home Christmas Chloe Marquee Television film (Lifetime)
2021 Soccer Mom Madam Anna Television film (Lifetime)
The Holiday Fix Up Sam Television film (Lifetime)
2022 Steppin' Into The Holiday Rae Television film (Lifetime)
72 hours Anita Television film (Lifetime)
2023 Chicago Fire Melissa Keating Season 11 Episode 11: "A Guy I Used to Know "
A Cowboy Christmas Romance Lexie Crenshaw Television film (Lifetime)
2024 Gaslit by My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story Morgan Metzer Television film (Lifetime); Also executive producer

Dancing with the Stars

On August 30, 2016, Kramer was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars. She was partnered with professional partner Gleb Savchenko. Kramer and Savchenko reached the finals of the show and finished in 4th place.

Week # Dance/Song Judges' score Result
Inaba Goodman Hough Tonioli
1 Viennese Waltz / "Dangerous Woman" 7 7 7 7 No Elimination
2 Tango / "I Don't Want to Be" 7 7 7 7 Safe
3 Jive / "Too Many Fish in the Sea" 7 7 7 7 Safe (Immunity)
4 Foxtrot / "Here Comes the Sun" 7 7 7 8 Last to be Called Safe
5 Contemporary / "In My Daughter's Eyes" 9 9 8 9 No Elimination
6 Argentine Tango / "Hands to Myself" 10 10 10 10 Safe
7 Samba / "Get Down Tonight"
Team Freestyle / "Embrace"
8
8
8
9
9
9
9
9
Last to be Called Safe
8 Jazz / "Little Shop of Horrors"
Salsa Dance-off / "Magic"
9
Awarded
9
3
9
Extra
9
Points
Safe
9 Waltz / "She Used to Be Mine"
Team-Up Dance (Contemporary) / "Bird Set Free"
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
Last to be Called Safe
10
Semifinals
Quickstep / "Go Mama"
Trio Paso Doble / "Kill of the Night"
9
10
10
10
9
10
10
10
Safe
11
Finals
Tango / "Stay The Night"
Freestyle / "Unstoppable"
8
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
Eliminated (4th place)

Discography

  • Jana Kramer (2012)
  • Thirty One (2015)

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Result
2012 American Country Awards New Artist of the Year Nominated
Single by a New Artist: "Why You Wanna" Nominated
Music Video by a New Artist: "Why You Wanna" Nominated
2013 ACM Awards Top New Female Artist Won
Top New Artist Nominated
CMT Music Awards Female Video of the Year: "Why Ya Wanna" Nominated
Breakthrough Video of the Year: "Why Ya Wanna" Nominated
2016 ACM Awards Female Vocalist of the Year Nominated
American Country Countdown Awards Breakthrough Female of the Year Nominated
Female Vocalist of the Year Nominated

See also

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