What's Hot

Getty Images/Rick Diamond
.
Normally, when an actress announces that she wants to pursue music — or vice versa — all I can do is roll my eyes. However, Jana Kramer of One Tree Hill fame is an exception to the rule given she actually appears to have musical talents — since it was released just a couple of weeks ago, I’ve had her debut album on heavy rotation.  As you may not yet know Jana, I figured I’d spend some time today letting you in on who she is, where she comes from, and why you should know more than just her name.
A decade ago, Jana made her onscreen debut in the low budget film Dead/Undead. From that year until 2007, Jana took on small roles on shows like All My Children, CSI, and Grey’s Anatomy, and in films such as Prom Night. In 2010, she scored a recurring role on Friday Night Lights, which was closely followed by a recurring role on the 90210 reboot.
.

Getty Images/Kevin Winter
.
In 2009, Jana played a sorority girl on the HBO show Entourage. When that gig ended, she moved on to One Tree Hill. Originally, it was expected that she’d just be a guest star, but her role was upgraded to series regular after she starred in fourteen straight episodes.
.

.
In 2011, Jana signed a music contract with Elektra Records. She then debuted her promo track, “I Won’t Give Up,” on an episode of One Tree Hill. The song reached number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and Jana was encouraged to begin work on her debut album. In April of 2011, she released a second promo track, which reached number 99 on the on the US Billboard Hot 100.
.

.
In January of 2012, Jana released her first official single, entitled “Why Ya Wanna.” It peaked at number 85 on the Billboard charts. Not long after, Jana announced that she would be leaving One Tree Hill to focus on her music.
.

Getty Images/Rick Diamond
.
Just a few weeks ago, Jana released her self-titled debut album. It opened at No. 5 on the Country Album Chart, and received mostly positive reviews. One reviewer called Jana’s effort “the most surprising album of the year.” Not bad for Jana’s first try, eh?
.

.
Meanwhile, Jana hasn’t completely given up on acting. We’ll get to see her later this year in the indie drama Heart of the Country as well as sometime next year in the horror flick The Gatekeeper. However, it’s clear Jana’s greatest passion lies in her music, and I have very little doubt that this is just the beginning of what promises to be a long and impressive career.
.
What do you think of Jana Kramer’s music? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!