Jana Kramer Bio
Jana Rae Kramer (born December 2, 1983) is an American actress and country music singer best known for her portrayal of Alex Dupre on the television series One Tree Hill. She launched her music career in 2012, releasing two albums, Jana Kramer (2012) and Thirty One (2015), which produced charting singles including the top 10 hits “Why Ya Wanna” and “I Got the Boy.” Kramer has appeared in numerous films and television shows, from independent features to guest spots on major series, and she competed on season 23 of Dancing with the Stars, finishing in fourth place. Her career spans music, acting, and producing, with ongoing projects in both country music and television.
Early Life and Background
Jana Rae Kramer was born on December 2, 1983, in Rochester Hills, Michigan, United States, to Nora (née Kauffmann) and Martin Kramer. She has an elder brother, Steve, who serves as a sergeant at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Her heritage includes German and Slovak ancestry through her maternal grandparents, with some family roots tracing back through German descent. She speaks some German. After her parents divorced, Kramer lived in Dearborn for some time.
Kramer attended Rochester Adams High School in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and graduated in 2002. Following her graduation, she made the decision to move to Los Angeles, California, to pursue an acting career. She later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she would eventually establish her music career.
Path to Acting and Music
Kramer began her entertainment career in 2002 with her acting debut in the low-budget independent horror film Dead/Undead. The following year, in 2003, she made her television debut with a guest appearance on the soap opera All My Children. This early work established her foundation in the entertainment industry and led to numerous guest starring roles on popular television series throughout the mid-2000s.
Kramer appeared on several acclaimed television programs, including guest roles on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, and CSI: NY. Her filmography during this period included supporting roles in films such as Return of the Living Dead: Necropolis, Click, Prom Night, Heart of the Country, and Country Crush. She also appeared in the film Spring Breakdown. These diverse roles helped develop her craft and build her resume in the competitive entertainment industry.
Jana Kramer Career
Early Career (2002–2011)
In 2007, Kramer landed a recurring role on the NBC sports drama television series Friday Night Lights, playing the character Noelle Davenport in the second season. The following year, in 2008, she appeared on the CW teen drama series 90210, a reboot of the classic 1990s series Beverly Hills 90210. She portrayed high school student Portia Ranson, appearing in six episodes during the first season, with her final appearance airing on May 5, 2009.
In 2009, Kramer appeared on the HBO dramedy series Entourage, playing a sorority girl who seduces the character Turtle, portrayed by Jerry Ferrara. She appeared in four episodes of the series. That same year, she joined the cast of One Tree Hill, a decision that would become a pivotal moment in her acting career.
Breakthrough (2009–2012)
In June 2009, it was announced that Kramer would join the cast of One Tree Hill for its seventh season. 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 turmoil for the residents of Tree Hill. Her debut in the season’s first episode was met with positive reception. Initially intended as a recurring character, her role was upgraded to series regular status by the fourteenth episode, “Family Affair.” Kramer continued on the show through the ninth and final season, making her final appearance in the second episode of season nine, “In the Room Where You Sleep,” which aired on January 18, 2012. She departed the series to focus on her emerging music career.
In February 2011, Kramer signed a recording contract with Elektra Records. That same month, she premiered her promotional track “I Won’t Give Up” in a One Tree Hill episode, releasing it the following day on iTunes and Amazon. The song reached number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. In April 2011, she released another promotional track titled “Whiskey,” which was also featured on One Tree Hill and reached number 99 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart based on digital sales alone.
Music Career and Continued Work (2012–Present)
On January 16, 2012, Kramer released her official debut single, “Why Ya Wanna.” The music video premiered on February 6, 2012, directed by Kristin Barlowe. The song peaked at number 52 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 3 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. On June 5, 2012, she released her self-titled debut album Jana Kramer. The record received positive reviews from critics, with many praising her vocal performance.
Kramer released her second album, Thirty One, in 2015. The album produced several charting singles, including the top 10 hits “Why Ya Wanna” and “I Got the Boy.” In July 2013, she opened for Blake Shelton on his Ten Times Crazier Tour in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She also appeared in Nationwide Insurance advertising campaigns as part of their “Join the Nation” campaign, promoting the company’s products and services.
In 2024, Kramer starred in and served as executive producer on the Lifetime movie Gaslit By My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story, portraying Morgan Metzer in a film based on a true story about a woman who was gaslit by her ex-husband. That same year, she competed on season twelve of The Masked Singer as “Royal Knight.” She was eliminated during the Group C Finals and was partnered with Savannah Chrisley as her Mask Ambassador.
Notable Works and Milestones
Kramer’s most recognizable television role remains Alex Dupre on One Tree Hill, a character she portrayed for three seasons and helped make a significant impact on the show’s storyline. Her music career produced seven charted singles across Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. Her participation in Dancing with the Stars season 23 brought her to a wider audience, with her performances earning praise and culminating in a fourth-place finish alongside professional partner Gleb Savchenko.
Jana Kramer Family
Kramer is the daughter of Martin Kramer and Nora (née Kauffmann) Kramer. She has an elder brother, Steve Kramer, who serves as a sergeant at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. Her maternal ancestry includes German and Slovak heritage through her grandparents.
Personal Life
Kramer has been married four times. She first married Michael Gambino in 2004, and the marriage ended after several months when Gambino was convicted of attempted murder charges in 2005 related to domestic abuse. She later married actor Johnathon Schaech, whom she met on the set of Prom Night, on July 4, 2010. They separated within a month, and their divorce was finalized in June 2011. In 2013, she became engaged to country music singer Brantley Gilbert, but they ended their relationship in August 2013.
In August 2014, Kramer began dating Washington Redskins tight end Mike Caussin. After a brief split due to his infidelity, they reconciled. They became engaged in December 2014 and married on May 22, 2015. The couple had three children together: a daughter born on January 31, 2016, and two sons born on November 29, 2018, and November 13, 2023. They separated in 2016 during Caussin’s admission into rehab for sex addiction, but reconciled the following year and renewed their wedding vows in December 2017. Kramer filed for divorce in April 2021, citing irreconcilable differences and adultery. The divorce was finalized on July 22, 2021.
In January 2023, Kramer confirmed her relationship with Allan Russell, a former Scottish soccer player and creator of the Superior Striker coaching program. They became engaged in May 2023 and announced they were expecting their first child together in June 2023. They welcomed their son in November 2023. Kramer and Russell married on July 13, 2024, in Scotland.