Catching up with Jana Kramer: Actress, singer, author, mother and podcaster

Jana Kramer. Photo Credit: Josh Beech

Jana Kramer is a woman that wears many hats: actress, singer, author, mother, and podcaster. She chatted about her latest endeavors.

She is a country music singer and actress. She has starred in such television shows as “One Tree Hill,” “Friday Night Lights,” and “Dancing with the Stars,” and has released two albums: “Jana Kramer” and “Thirty One.”

Kramer hosts the “Whine Down” podcast, and her latest book is “The Next Chapter,” which was a New York Times bestseller.

‘Whine Down’ podcast

Kramer spoke about her “Whine Down” podcast. “My podcast is going so well and it is so much fun,” she exclaimed. “I love being able to talk to people and get to know different things.”

“That’s one of the reasons why I started to really look into what I am eating and what I am fueling my body with. I started to be more mindful with what I am putting into my body. I have also had a lot of fun along the way,” she elaborated.

Wellness routines

As part of her wellness routine, she has child-friendly protein packed recipes and tips for the before-school morning hustle. Her kids rave about her staple weekday recipes that infuse an extra boost of protein, like protein pancakes, muffins, and smoothies.

She also uses breakfast time as an opportunity to check in on how kids are feeling about the day ahead, where they name their morning smoothie based on their mood.

Kramer on her Orgain partnership

The entertainer shared that she is enjoying her partnership with Orgain Kids Protein Shake. “They are so good,” she admitted. “I drank Orgain even before the partnership started because I didn’t realize how important protein was. That was when I found Orgain.”

“Now, I actually look at ingredients and what are in things. Orgain is so mindful of what they put in their products. It combines nutritional value with great taste. This is the brand I went with and it tastes really good,” she elaborated.

“My kids love them and I put them in their lunchboxes,” she added.

‘The Next Chapter’ book

She noted that her book “The Next Chapter” was a really cathartic experience. “I felt like ‘the next chapter,’ no pun intended,” she said.

“It was what I needed to put out there for myself too. It was a book that I wish I had when I got divorced, especially since it showcases hope and the fact that you can get through it,” she elaborated.

“It is nice that there are people that are still finding the book now, and reading it,” she added.

‘A Cowboy Christmas Romance’ film on Lifetime

Kramer recalled starring in the Lifetime holiday film “A Cowboy Christmas Romance” opposite Adam Senn, who played her male love interest, and Max Ehrich, who played her brother. “It was fun,” she admitted.

“Adam Senn is a sweetheart, he is a good dude, and he is so great,” she said. “Working with Max Ehrich was great too. Max played my little brother in the movie and he is just a wonderful artist. Max is very creative.”

“While filming it, I was super pregnant with Roman, and I was throwing up in between takes but I had to get the job done. It was still so much fun. The movie did great, and it was one of the highest-rated on Lifetime,” she elaborated.

‘Gaslit by My Husband’ movie on Lifetime

Kramer also opened up about doing the Lifetime movie “Gaslit by My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story,” which was based on a true story.

“It was a rough movie to film. It hit a lot of past traumas. I didn’t know how I would feel having that aggression on me again. Even though it was acting, it still triggered things that the body remembered, so it was both tough but very healing at the same time.”

“In that movie, I was able to re-write the ending for me, and the courtroom scene was everything I didn’t know I needed. It allowed me to lead with power, and it was very cathartic. I loved it,” she admitted.

Stage of her life

Regarding the title of the current chapter of her life, Kramer revealed, “Letting It Settle.”

“I am embracing the periods where I am just still,” she admitted. “I am so used to chaos and uneven ground and for the first time in my life, it is trying to be comfortable in the settledness of things. It is a very different feeling for me but I am finding a lot of beauty in it too.”

Superpower of choice

If she were to have any superpower, it would be “to be in two places at once.”

“Speaking of superpowers, my sweet, sweet husband [Allan] is so good with the kids, and he would ask them what kind of smoothie they would want each morning… and he would make these smoothies for my kids, and that is just so sweet. Allan is just so great with my kids,” she said.

Favorite mottos to live by

On her favorite mottos to live by, she shared, “You only get one life, so live it.”

“Be grateful for every moment that you have because it can be your last. It is all about embracing every moment that you have,” she added.

Success

Regarding her definition of success, Kramer concluded, “Success is happiness for myself and my family. I am so blessed to have a beautiful family, and I want to continue having a happy life and household. Everything else is a cherry on top.”

To learn more about Jana Kramer, follow her on Instagram.