Fans in the Nashville area can have just that — a free Jana show — on Monday, April 16th.  The show will be at 12th & Porter and is being taped for CMT.  Doors for the free, all-ages show will open at 5:00pm, and the show will start at 5:30.  Entry will be first-come first-serve.

The former One Tree Hill actress made an immediate impact with her debut single, “Why Ya Wanna.”   When the song was released in late January, 55 radio stations added it to their rotations.  That made Kramer the most added debut artist since Country Aircheck began tracking playlist adds back in 2006.  The single currently sits at #24 in the latest Billboard Country Song chart.

Her debut single will be followed, naturally, by her debut album.  The self-titled disc comes out on June 5th.  We can expect a crush of Kramer with appearances — both live and on TV — to surround the release.    We’ll keep you updated to when and where you can satisfy your jonesing for more Jana.

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CMT exclusively debuted the video for the former One Tree Hill actress.  The network is also backing the Elektra Nashville singer by naming her as the inaugural artist in their revamped Listen Up program, which highlights artists on the verge of breaking out.  What that means for Kramer is a lot of support this month from CMT, both on TV and online.

That’s very good news for Kramer, who set a record with the radio release of “Why Ya Wanna.”  When the song was first released, 55 radio stations added it to their rotations.  That made Kramer the most added debut artist since Country Aircheck began tracking playlist adds back in 2006.  Her cracking into the Mediabase Top 40 shows the song is now starting to pick up steam.  It might be going from steam to smoke to flame with the added attention the video will be bringing her.  Stay tuned!

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The 28-year-old has now signed off from the small screen and is focused solely on her singing career.  She released her first single, “Why Ya Wanna,” in record-setting style last week.  A total of 55 stations added the song to their playlists, which is the most ever for a debut artist, male or female.  (Read about her reaction to the record and more on the single here.)

One possible reason for country radio’s warm reception is that Kramer’s already proven there’s a market for her music.  Before the radio release of “Why Ya Wanna,” she had a handful of digital singles out.  Those singles have sold nearly 200,000 copies without any airplay.  Clearly, people are listening and liking what they hear – including us.  We featured her “What I Love About Your Love” earlier this month in our Video Picks of the Week.

We talked with her right after she came from visiting her doctor.  A nasty cough slowed her down a bit, but it couldn’t stop her from talking about the passion she has for following her dream of making it in country music.  She knows there are skeptics out there and takes them head-on.  Plus, she talks about some ”star” support and dishes details from her “hot” video shoot.

So many people know you from your work on One Tree Hill.  Do you see this as an advantage coming into country music simply because you’re already a known commodity?

Yeah, that’s definitely a help, especially with the One Tree Hill fans because they’re just the most devoted fans ever.  But the coolest accomplishment for me is when someone comes up to me and they’re like, “I love your music.  I had no idea you were an actress, but I love your music.”  And I’m like, “Actually that’s the biggest complement I could ever get because you don’t know me from the show, you know me from my music.”

What do you have to say skeptics who might be saying ‘Well, she’s an actress who’s going into singing?’

I’ve had to deal with that before I even moved to town.  “Oh, you’re just another actress.  You’re probably just gonna do one single and then go do another TV show.”  All I can say to that is I understand you can think that, because there’s been people before me who have done that, who have stepped in and then left.  The difference is I’m gonna stick around.  My music speaks for itself.  I’m here and I’m not just getting out because things get hard or whatever.  I live in Nashville and this is where my home is right now.

That’s a big thing.  You’re actually now living in Nashville and not just flying in and out.  

I bought a house before I got my record deal.  I knew that it was going to take a while.  It happened a lot sooner and I’m grateful and thankful for that.  But even if it didn’t, I’d still be here and still be trying to get a deal.  Because this is what I want to do, this is my dream.

What is it that drew you to country music?  Does it have to do with your upbringing or is it music you’ve enjoyed your whole life?

I grew up singing country music.  I grew up listening to it with my Grandma.  Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash – all the old amazing singers.  It’s just something that I grew up with and I’ve always sang country music.

One of the main things with country music is having songs that are relatable.  When I listen to your “Why Ya Wanna,” even as a 44-year-old guy, I can relate to that.

Yay!  That’s what I want!

Is this something you keep in mind when you’re writing or selecting songs:  ‘”This is something everyone can relate to” or is it more “this is how I feel and I hope the world relates to it”?

I think it’s a little bit of both, but more so what everyone can relate to.  The reason why I’m doing country music especially is it’s telling a story.  Music has helped me so much in my life.  I want to kind of give that back and have songs people can relate to.  Yes, I’m a girl singing about a boy, but it’s awesome that a guy can relate.  It doesn’t matter.  We can all feel the same way.  So it’s really neat.

When will the music video be coming out?

It’s coming out in February.  It’s already been edited.  It’s been edited for a really long time.  When we were out on the radio tour we were showing it to all of the radio program directors and they’ve been able to see it.  So now the fans will be able to see it in February.  It’s awesome and something I can’t wait for you guys to see.

Any details about the video you can share with us?  Obviously, we’re expecting to see you in it.  But, gosh, I don’t know if you’d be comfortable acting in a video!

(Laughs)  I really got to use my acting chops in the video.  It was fun.  I’m on a bike for most of it.  A real funny fact:  It was the hottest day in Nashville ever recorded.  It was like 114 degrees and I had to ride a bike that day and I was dying! (Laughs)  It was so hot!

Along with the video, fan can also expect another special release next month, a CD/magazine combo.

It’s gonna be like a magazine with some songs in there.  And it’s gonna have some fun facts about me, just little things to know about me.  There are also some personal photos.  It’s gonna be pretty cool.  Something fans can have it their hands.  (Note:  It could’ve been due to her cold, but she didn’t mention that the ‘ZinePak will include questions submitted by her fans on Facebook.  Maybe yours will be in there!) 

What is the status of your album right now?

We’re about five songs away from being done.  We finish next week, so I am ecstatic!

The album comes out later this year.  Naturally, you’ll be out promoting it.  Along with radio stops, will you be doing individual shows or are there any tours you’ll be able to hop on?

We’ll definitely be hopping on a tour.  I should know by next week for sure that I’m getting one.  In the meantime I’ll be doing a bunch of radio tours and fair dates.  People can go to my website (www.janakramer.com) to check in and see where I’m coming.

Country radio is certainly embracing you.  How about other country artists?  What sort of feedback have you gotten from them?

The coolest one so far was at the very beginning Charles from Lady A came up to me and was like, “We love your song!” and I was like, “Wow!  Thanks!”  And Clay Walker has been another huge supporter.  Every time I see him and his wife they’re like, “We’re really rooting for you!”  It’s been really great.  So it’s just definitely really welcoming.

Let’s go in the land of fantasy now.  If you could choose anyone you could go out on the road with, who might that be? 

Ohhh, that’s a good one!  I’d want to go out with everyone right now!  But Jason Aldean would be really fun.  The Tim McGraw/Kenny Chesney tour would be awesome.  Those are my top three right now.  And Brad Paisley!

I want to give you the chance to add whatever you’d like for your fans and potential new fans to know about you as a country music singer and songwriter.

I’m as real and authentic as it’s gonna get in every song that I sing.  I’ve felt and lived and I really want people to be able to connect with that.  And know that I’m not just some TV star.  I’m just a regular girl who has the same heartaches as everyone else and the same happy times.  I guess I want that.  It’s really fun to get to meet everyone, too and to get to know people on the road and just have fun with everybody.

What would you consider success to be in the field of country music?  Does it have to be a number one song or a number one album?   Or is it something else?

As great as it would be to have a number song and a number one album, to just get to a point and say just that…I mean people have that and it’s gone the next day.   I really want a very steady and growing and successful career that brings a lot of great songs that people can relate to.  (Pauses) And an award would be great to win!  Those things would be great!  (Laughs)

Related posts:

1. EXCLUSIVE: Interview With Jana Kramer
2. Jana Kramer’s New Single Sets Radio Record
3. Video Picks Of The Week: January 14, 2012

The now former small-screen star released her first single, “Why Ya Wanna,” this week.  The song’s title may not win over many English teachers, but the song itself is rocking country radio.  Country Aircheck reported that 55 stations added the song to their playlists.  That’s nearly triple the previous high mark for any debut female artist.

The 28-year-old Michigan native is known to many from her acting work on the TV series One Tree Hill.  Her last episode on that program aired earlier this week.  Now that she’s taken leave from OTH, she’s fully focused on her singing career.

I got to talk with Jana, who is confident and committed to her new craft.  We discussed her record-setting debut, where the song came from and if she’s had that special moment that all artists experience with their first release.

The release of “Why Ya Wanna” made a record-setting splash with 55 stations adding the song.  Are you blown away by this?

I know, I know! It hasn’t really hit me yet.  Maybe it’s because I’ve been sick or what.  When we were on the road on the radio tour, they were like ‘You’re gonna break the record, you’re gonna break the record’.  It just really hasn’t hit me that I actually broke a record and that so many stations added it.

It’s kinda just a little bit surreal.  But at the same time I’m like ‘Yeah, of course!’  I’m so determined and hard-headed to a fault.  So of course I would break a record. (Laughs)  Because that’s how I’m like!  (Laughs).

How have the people in radio who you’ve met in-person been receiving you?

They’re so nice.  It’s just been great.  Everyone’s been really welcoming.  It’s really hard for a female to break through in the country format and we had those people who kept saying ‘We hope you’re the female who breaks through.’  They’ve just been so nice.

How did the song “Why Ya Wanna” come to you?

I write a lot of my music.  My friend, who I write with a lot, we were writing together and I was kinda explaining a situation about this guy and he still comes around and it’s so hard to see him.  She was like ‘Oh, my gosh!  You have to hear this song that I just wrote with another co-writer in town’.  And she played it for me and I was like ‘Oh, my gosh!   This is everything I’ve been wanting to say!  I want the song!’.  So I played in for my producer Scott Hendricks and he loved it and it ended up being the single.

Have you had the chance while driving down the road to hear it on the radio yet?

You know what?  I haven’t.  It’s so funny – I was just texting Anthony Allen, the program director at WSIX in Nashville and I heard that my song was on the radio because my friend called me screaming.  I tried to get down to my car in time to turn it on, but I missed it.   So I texted, ‘Oh, my gosh!  You played my song!  I can’t wait for the day when I’m driving in the car and it comes on.’  He’s was like, ‘You gotta call me when you’re in the car and we’ll play it!’  I haven’t, but I can’t wait.

**********

We’ll have more with Jana next week including news about a special release, what drew her to country music, talk of touring and some details about the upcoming music video for “Why Ya Wanna.”

That video is due out next month.  For now, enjoy the “Official Audio” version of the video.  That’s a bit weird to say, but it does make sense.

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We’re back with our weekly special, “Video Picks of the Week!”

Music Video

This week’s music video is Jana Kramer‘s new single, “What I Love About Your Love. ” Many fans know her as Alex Dupre on the CW hit series, One Tree Hill, which just happens to be one of my favorite television shows of all-time. When Kramer came on to the OTH scene in 2009, I had no idea the talented actress was also such a talented singer.

Last year, she was signed to Warner Music Nashville. She now has a few singles under her belt and was also a part of the Footloose soundtrack with her version of “Let’s Hear It For The Boy.” The new track, “What I Love About Your Love,” has a fun sound that just makes you want to get up, put on a cowboy hat, and clap your hands. Not to mention, Kramer’s voice and country twang on the track take the song to another level.

See the other two “Video Picks Of The Week” below:

Live Performance

I love live acoustic music and could listen to it all day! This week’s live performance is Kenny Chesney performing his number one song, “Somewhere With You,” at Walmart Soundcheck. The track served as the second single off of his album, Hemingway’s Whiskey, and is Chesney’s first single to be certified platinum for digital sales. It was a bit of a different sound than we were used to hearing from Chesney, but it’s a really great song and ended up being a perfect fit for him.

Cover Song

Casey James and Bret Michaels? I cannot find anything wrong with that combination. James is another one of my favorite contestants to come out of American Idol. He’s so talented with his smooth voice, fantastic guitar skills, and natural performance ability. James finished third on Idol season 9 back in 2010, and he got the chance to perform with rock icon, Bret Michaels on the finale that year. Their duet of Poison’s mega-hit “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” made for one of the most memorable performances from any season!

Thoughts? Suggestions? Sound off in the comments section!

Have a good one! Until next week…

Related posts:

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2. Video Picks Of The Week: December 9, 2011
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