Jana Kramer, the actress, singer, podcast host, and mother joins us to pull back the curtain on the entertainment industry's less glamorous realities and share how she's found her authentic voice through it all.
Jana's story begins with remarkable determination – handing her headshot to a soap opera actor while waitressing in Detroit, then convincing a casting director she lived in New York to land her first role. This fearlessness carried her through roles on Friday Night Lights and One Tree Hill before an unexpected pivot to country music during a writers' strike revealed another dimension of her talent.
What makes Jana's perspective so refreshing is her willingness to acknowledge both her strengths and limitations. "I don't have the Carrie Underwood voice," she admits, explaining how she instead leaned into emotional authenticity and stage presence. This honesty extends to her candid revelations about industry politics – from being told her CRS performance caused single failures to restrictions on her acting career while pursuing music. Her observations about women in country radio illuminate persistent gender disparities that continue despite the success of predecessors like Faith Hill and Shania Twain.
Beyond career insights, Jana opens up about personal growth through therapy, the challenges of balancing touring with Dancing with the Stars competition, and finding joy in her current focus on acting and podcasting. Her experience hosting multiple weekly podcast episodes echoes our own journey – navigating when to speak candidly versus holding back, and finding purpose in connecting with listeners despite occasional backlash.
Whether you're a longtime fan from her One Tree Hill days, discovered her through country radio hits like "I Got the Boy," or are new to her story, Jana's resilience and multifaceted career offer inspiration for anyone navigating creative industries while staying true to themselves. Listen now to this conversation that feels less like an interview and more like friends catching up over coffee – or perhaps a bottle of wine, as Jana would prefer.
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