Jana Kramer

Jana Rae Kramer (born December 2, 1983) is an American actress and country singer. She rose to prominence by playing Alex Dupre in the CW's teen drama series One Tree Hill (2009–2012).

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 in season 23 of Dancing with the Stars, finishing in fourth place.

Early life Jana Rae Kramer was born on December 2, 1983, in Rochester Hills, Michigan, United States, Nora's paternal grandfather was of German descent through his father and maternal grandfather. Her paternal grandmother was also of German descent. Nora's maternal grandfather was of Slovak descent. Her maternal grandmother was of German and Irish descent. Kramer speaks some German. She lived in Dearborn for some time after her parents divorced. Kramer attended Rochester Adams High School, graduating in 2002. She subsequently moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue an acting career. She later moved to Nashville, 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 she guest appeared on All My Children, which marked her 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. She 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. She played the role of a sorority girl who seduces the character Turtle (Jerry Ferrara), and appeared in four episodes.

In June 2009, it was announced Kramer would star in the seventh season of CW drama television series One Tree Hill. She 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 her 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 made the announcement that she would no longer be making regular appearances in the show's ninth and final season, as she decided to focus on her music career. Her last appearance on the show occurred in the second episode of the ninth season, "In the Room Where You Sleep," which was 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–present: 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 at the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles. On January 16, 2012, Kramer released her official debut single, "Why Ya Wanna". She 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, she 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. In November 2014, Jana reprised her Nationwide role, this time as a sexy Santa Claus-like figure replacing items during Christmas season. 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). Also in 2024, Kramer competed in season twelve of The Masked Singer as "Royal Knight" and had Savannah Chrisley (who competed in season eleven as "Afghan Hound") serving as her Mask Ambassador. She was eliminated in the "Group C Finals: Peanuts Thanksgiving" alongside Bronson Arroyo as "Sherlock Hound".

Personal life On April 14, 2004, Kramer married her first husband, Michael Gambino, who was 17 years her senior, in Las Vegas after two weeks of dating. They divorced several months later after Gambino subjected Kramer to severe domestic abuse, which escalated from emotional manipulation to physical violence. On August 6, 2005, Gambino choked Kramer into unconsciousness and, believing that he had killed her, left her bleeding outside their home in Los Angeles. In 2005, Gambino was convicted of premeditated attempted murder and was sentenced to six years in prison. In 2010, Gambino was released from prison after serving five years and died by suicide two years later.

On December 22, 2009, Kramer became engaged to actor Johnathon Schaech, whom she had met on the set of Prom Night (2008). They married in Glen Arbor, Michigan on July 4, 2010, but separated a month later. Their divorce was finalized in June 2011, with both waiving their rights to spousal support. Kramer began dating country music singer Brantley Gilbert, whom she met at the CMT Music Awards in June 2012, and became engaged on his 28th birthday in January 2013. They ended their relationship in August 2013 due to their busy schedules, but remained on good terms. In November 2013, Kramer briefly dated actor Scott Eastwood.

In August 2014, Kramer began dating Washington Redskins tight end Mike Caussin, whom she met on Twitter. She announced just weeks later that they had split because of his infidelity. Shortly after, she publicly forgave him and they reconciled. Kramer and Caussin became engaged on her 31st birthday in December 2014, and were married in Charlottesville, Virginia on May 22, 2015. On August 10, 2015, the couple revealed they were expecting their first child. Kramer gave birth to her daughter, Jolie Rae Caussin, on January 31, 2016. By August 2016, Kramer and Caussin had separated in the midst of Caussin's admission into rehab for sex addiction. They reconciled the following year and renewed their wedding vows in December 2017.

In April 2018, Kramer and Caussin shared their battle with his sex addiction. In July 2018, Kramer announced she was expecting her second child. Kramer gave birth to her son, Jace Joseph Caussin, on November 29, 2018. On April 20, 2021, Kramer filed for divorce from Caussin, citing "inappropriate marital conduct, irreconcilable differences and adultery". 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.

Between September 2021 and October 2021, Kramer dated Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler following his divorce from Kristin Cavallari. Kramer had been close friends with Cavallari, but after Cutler went public with the relationship, Cavallari blocked Kramer on social media and the two have remained estranged. In late 2021, Kramer began dating fitness trainer and United States Navy veteran Ian Schinelli. Schinelli has a daughter from a previous relationship. They ended their relationship in April 2022, with Kramer claiming that it was due to Schinelli's infidelity and she had become friends with his ex-wife, while Schinelli cited Kramer's alleged jealousy and possessiveness as the reason. Schinelli also claimed that he cut off family and friends during the six months that he and Kramer were dating.

In January 2023, Kramer publicly confirmed via Instagram her relationship with Scottish football player Allan Russell. 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 were expecting their first child together. Kramer gave birth to her son, Roman James Russell, on November 13, 2023. They married at Carnell Estate in South Ayrshire, Scotland on July 13, 2024. Through her marriage to Russell, Kramer became stepmother to his son, Troy, from a previous relationship.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2002 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 2013Heart 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" 2007–2008 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 23Country 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); Also executive producer 2022 Steppin' Into The Holiday Rae Television film (Lifetime); Also executive producer 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 2024 The Masked Singer Herself/Royal Knight Season 12 Contestant

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 Music Judges' scores Total score Result 1 Viennese waltz "Dangerous Woman" — Ariana Grande 7 6 6 8 27 Safe 2 Tango "I Don't Want to Be" — Gavin DeGraw 7 8 7 7 29 Safe 3 Jive "Too Many Fish in the Sea" — Bette Midler 6 7 6 7 26 Safe(Immunity) 4 Foxtrot "Here Comes the Sun" — The Beatles 8 7 8 23 Safe 5 Contemporary "In My Daughter's Eyes" — Martina McBride 9 8 9 26 Safe 6 Argentine tango "Hands to Myself" — Selena Gomez 10 10 10 40 Safe 7 Samba "Get Down Tonight" — KC and the Sunshine Band 8 8 9 9 34 Safe Freestyle "Embrace" — Armin van Buuren, feat. Eric Vloeimans 8 9 9 9 35 8 Jazz "Little Shop of Horrors" — Alan Menken 9 9 9 27 Safe Salsa(Dance-off) "Magic" — Robin Thicke 3 9 Waltz "She Used to Be Mine" — Sara Bareilles 10 10 10 40 Safe Contemporary(Team dance) "Bird Set Free" — Sia 10 10 10 40 10 Quickstep "Go Mama" — Wayne Beckford 9 9 10 28 Safe Paso doble "Kill of the Night" — Gin Wigmore 10 10 10 30 11 Tango "Stay the Night" — Zedd, feat. Hayley Williams 8 9 9 9 35 Eliminated Freestyle "Unstoppable" — Sia 9 9 9 9 36