Jana Kramer has spent over two decades in entertainment. The Michigan-born singer and actress stands at 5’4″ with a net worth of $3 million. At 41, she balances country music, acting roles, and raising three children.
Her career took off with One Tree Hill in 2009. She later scored a top-three Billboard hit with “Why Ya Wanna.” Today, she’s married to Scottish soccer coach Allan Russell and continues working across music, film, and her Whine Down podcast.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Jana Rae Kramer |
| Date of Birth | December 2, 1983 |
| Age | 41 years old |
| Height | 5’4″ (1.63 m) |
| Birthplace | Rochester Hills, Michigan |
| Net Worth | $3 million (2025) |
| Profession | Singer, Actress, Author, Podcaster |
| Spouse | Allan Russell (married July 2024) |
| Children | Jolie Rae (9), Jace Joseph (6), Roman James Russell (1) |
| Notable Work | One Tree Hill, “Why Ya Wanna,” Thirty One album |
| Awards | ACM Top New Female Artist (2013) |
Early Life Origins
Jana Rae Kramer was born December 2, 1983, in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Her parents Nora and Martin Kramer, both of German descent, divorced during her childhood. She lived with her mother, who worked three jobs as a single parent.
Her relationship with her father created lasting challenges. “Nothing was ever good enough for my father,” Kramer told People Magazine. Therapy later helped her understand how seeking his approval influenced her adult relationships.
Her older brother Steve Kramer serves as a sergeant at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office. She graduated from Rochester Adams High School in 2002 and immediately moved to Los Angeles. The decision to chase acting dreams came with years of financial struggle.
Acting Career Breakthrough
Kramer’s Hollywood career started with the 2002 horror film Dead/Undead. Guest spots on All My Children, CSI, and Grey’s Anatomy followed. She ate frozen taquitos for months and accumulated debt while building her resume.
NBC’s Friday Night Lights cast her as Noelle Davenport in 2007. The 90210 reboot and four HBO Entourage episodes in 2008-2009 brought more visibility. Guest work on Private Practice rounded out her early television appearances.
One Tree Hill transformed her career in June 2009. She played Alex Dupre, an actress representing Brooke Davis’s fashion line Clothes Over Bros. The role expanded to series regular by episode 14, providing her first stable income in entertainment.
Country Music Success
The show launched her music path by featuring her songs. “I Won’t Give Up” and “Whiskey” both charted on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2011. Elektra Records signed her in February 2011, marking her official entry into country music.
“Why Ya Wanna” dropped January 16, 2012, as her debut single. The track reached number 3 on Billboard Hot Country Songs and number 52 on the Hot 100. Director Kristin Barlowe premiered the music video on February 6, 2012.
Producer Scott Hendricks crafted her self-titled debut album Jana Kramer, released June 5, 2012. Her second album Thirty One arrived in 2015. Across both records, she placed seven singles on Country Airplay charts.
Her label demanded she leave One Tree Hill’s final season to tour radio stations. She opened for Blake Shelton on his Ten Times Crazier Tour in July 2013. Nationwide Insurance hired her for their Join the Nation campaign, featuring her in commercials through November 2014.
Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars season 23 paired Kramer with Gleb Savchenko in August 2016. The competition showcased her performance abilities beyond singing. They earned two perfect scores of 40 throughout the season.
Week 6 brought their Argentine tango to Selena Gomez’s “Hands to Myself” with guest judge Pitbull. Week 9 featured their waltz to Sara Bareilles’ “She Used to Be Mine” scored by Idina Menzel. The duo finished fourth place in the finals.
Surviving Domestic Violence
Jana Kramer’s first marriage to Michael Gambino in 2004 turned violent weeks after their wedding. Gambino was seventeen years her senior and the pattern escalated quickly. “He’d come home at 3 o’clock in the morning and pick me up out of bed, throw me onto the ground,” she recalled to People Magazine in 2016.
The situation reached a crisis on August 6, 2005, when Gambino choked her unconscious. He left her bleeding outside their Los Angeles home. “I remember praying that night, ‘Please, just take me away,'” she shared years later.
Gambino was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to six years in prison. He was released in 2010 and took his own life in 2012. Small scars on Jana’s shoulder remain from that night, but she now uses her story to help other women escape dangerous situations.
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Marriage and Relationships
Actor Johnathon Schaech and Kramer met on the Prom Night set. They married July 4, 2010, in Michigan after getting engaged in December 2009. The marriage lasted one month before separation, with divorce finalized in June 2011.
Country singer Brantley Gilbert entered her life at the June 2012 CMT Music Awards. Engagement came on his 28th birthday, January 20, 2013. The relationship ended by August 2013 due to conflicting tour schedules.
Washington Redskins tight end Mike Caussin connected with Kramer on Twitter in August 2014. Brief separation followed within weeks due to infidelity before reconciliation. Marriage happened May 22, 2015, with daughter Jolie Rae arriving January 31, 2016.
August 2016 brought separation when Caussin entered treatment. They renewed vows in December 2017 after reconciliation. Son Jace Joseph was born November 29, 2018 following multiple pregnancy losses and failed IVF attempts.
Kramer filed for divorce April 20, 2021, citing adultery. She negotiated primary custody in exchange for accepting a smaller financial settlement. The divorce finalized July 22, 2021 after six years of marriage.
Short relationships with Jay Cutler (September-October 2021) and trainer Ian Schinelli (late 2021-April 2022) followed. Both ended without drama or public conflict.
Life with Allan Russell
Allan Russell, a former Scottish soccer player, matched with Kramer on a dating app in early 2023. His career included teams like Hamilton Academical, Kilmarnock, and Carolina RailHawks. He transitioned to coaching after retiring from professional play.
Russell joined England’s coaching staff as striker coach in March 2017. His work during the 2018 FIFA World Cup match against Panama gained recognition. Later positions at Aberdeen Football Club and Norwich City Football Club preceded his Superior Striker training program.
They announced their relationship publicly in January 2023. Russell proposed in May 2023 during a pool party at their home after dating six-and-a-half months. Daughter Jolie jumped excitedly when witnessing the proposal moment.
Their son Roman James Russell arrived November 13, 2023. The middle name honored both grandfathers. Marriage took place July 13, 2024, at Carnell Estate in Scotland with 35 guests present according to PEOPLE.
Russell wore a kilt at the wedding ceremony. The reception featured haggis pie and ceilidh music celebrating Scottish traditions. Russell has a teenage son from a previous relationship who splits time between the US and England.
Podcast and Writing
Whine Down with Jana Kramer serves as her platform for discussing relationships and motherhood. Celebrity guests like Jenny McCarthy Wahlberg appear regularly. The podcast draws from her experiences navigating public personal struggles.
Her 2024 book The Next Chapter details her divorce from Caussin. She created spreadsheets with three settlement scenarios during negotiations. Primary custody of children mattered more than financial gain in her final decision.
The book reveals Caussin’s statement: “You know, I never really loved you.” Despite this, he later told their daughter that Kramer deserved happiness. “It meant so much to me that he said that,” she shared on her podcast.
Awards and Recognition
The 2013 ACM Awards named Kramer Top New Female Artist. She received a simultaneous nomination for Top New Artist. The recognition validated her shift from actress to country artist.
Three 2012 American Country Awards nominations arrived for “Why Ya Wanna”: New Artist of the Year, Single by a New Artist, and Music Video by a New Artist. The 2013 CMT Music Awards brought Female Video of the Year and Breakthrough Video of the Year nominations.
The Masked Singer season 12 cast her as “Royal Knight” in 2024. Savannah Chrisley served as her Mask Ambassador. Elimination came during the Group C Finals alongside Bronson Arroyo as “Sherlock Hound.”
Current Projects
Multiple movies filmed for 2025 release remain unannounced. Her Lifetime work includes Heart of the Country (2013), Soccer Mom Madam (2021), and Gaslit By My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story (2024). She executive produced the Morgan Metzer film starring One Tree Hill friend Austin Nichols.
Chicago Fire season 11, episode 11 featured her as Melissa Keating. A Cowboy Christmas Romance (2023) cast her as Lexie Crenshaw. Her Nashville base allows balancing film work with family responsibilities.
“Heart Shift,” written with Lee Brice, Sarah Brice, and Jerrod Niemann, awaits release. “There’s nothing better than being on set,” Kramer told Gold Derby. The Masked Singer reminded her “how much I miss being on stage” while podcasting continues regularly.
Conclusion
Jana Kramer’s career spans television, Billboard charts, and film. Her 2013 ACM Award proved country radio accepted an actress-turned-singer. She refused industry pressure to choose between acting and music.
Personal resilience defines her journey as much as professional success. Public divorces and raising children through chaos tested her strength. She now lives in Nashville with Allan Russell and their blended family.
At 41, she manages film projects, music releases, and three children under 10. Her podcast and book help others facing similar challenges. She built her career choosing authenticity over industry expectations.
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FAQ About Jana Kramer
How tall is Jana Kramer?
Jana Kramer stands 5’4″ (1.63 m) tall.
What is Jana Kramer’s net worth in 2025?
According to Celebrity Net Worth her estimated net worth is $3 million from music, acting, and commercial work.
Who is Jana Kramer’s husband?
She married Allan Russell, a former Scottish soccer player and coach, on July 13, 2024.
How many children does Jana Kramer have?
She has three children: Jolie Rae (9), Jace Joseph (6), and Roman James Russell (1).
What is Jana Kramer’s most famous song?
“Why Ya Wanna” reached number 3 on Billboard Hot Country Songs in 2012.
How old is Jana Kramer?
She’s 41 years old, born December 2, 1983.
What TV shows was Jana Kramer on?
One Tree Hill, Friday Night Lights, 90210, Entourage, Dancing with the Stars, and The Masked Singer.
Hello, I’m Serena Flores, a passionate writer with over 4 years of experience in lifestyle, biography, and internet culture content. I specialize in creating engaging, easy-to-read articles that simplify modern trends, slang, and real-life stories for every reader. My goal is to make complex topics relatable, offering well-researched insights and fresh perspectives that keep readers informed, inspired, and connected.