Inside Jana Kramer's Relationship History
The following references domestic abuse, suicide, and addiction.
If you're looking for a song to belt out in the car after a brutal heartbreak, just listen to Jana Kramer's "Voices." The songstress released the single just a few months after her divorce was final from former NFL player Mike Caussin. Kramer told People that her song helped her heal. "This song was really important for me and helped me a lot through my divorce because obviously, during that time, all I heard was the negative voices; that I wasn't lovable, I wasn't enough, I wasn't worthy, that I was broken," she shared.
Kramer's relationship history was tumultuous before her marriage to Caussin, as well as after. She's dealt with plenty of heartaches, but she has been an open book with her fans, especially on her "Whine Down" podcast. She's also good at advising on moving forward from past relationships, sharing with Access, "Your story isn't over. You're never going to be alone. It's not as bad as it seems in the moment. And I think time is a beautiful thing, and to just know God has bigger plans for you in store." And it looks like she's taken her advice, too.
All that said, Kramer isn't giving up on love or marriage. As she told Us Weekly in October 2021, "I have a lot of love to give." Let's take a closer look at her past relationships and all their ups and downs.
She survived an abusive first marriage
Before Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin were making headlines for their rollercoaster relationship, Kramer was previously married twice. Her first marriage was to Michael Gambino, whom she wed in 2004 when she was just 19 years old. However, their marriage was over by the following year after the "One Tree Hill" alum detailed the abuse she suffered at the hands of her ex-husband.
Years after their split, Kramer revealed in an interview with "Good Morning America" that Gambino, who would physically harm her throughout their marriage, attempted to kill the star in 2005. "This happened a lot. He would come home from a night out at the club and literally take me out of my bed and throw me onto the ground. He said he was going to kill me, choked me, did all those things, and I was like, 'This is it,'" she bravely recalled.
People reported that Gambino was arrested in 2005 for attempted murder and sentenced to six years in prison. Two years after his release, Gambino died by suicide. Kramer's decision to tell her story was not an easy one. However, she told People she wanted to share her experience to let other women know they are not alone. "If I can help one person, I'll be thankful for what happened — and I can move forward," she shared.
If you or someone you know is dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233. You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.
If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
She was married to her second husband for 12 days
By the time Jana Kramer met her second husband, actor Jonathon Schaech, she was already making a name for herself in Hollywood. Kramer starred alongside Adam Sandler in 2006's "Click" and had a recurring role as Noelle Davenport in the television series "Friday Night Lights." According to Us Weekly, she met Schaech on the set of the 2008 horror flick "Prom Night." The two became engaged in December 2009, with Schaech telling People (via E! News) that it was "the best present ever."
Kramer and Schaech married on July 4, 2010, but it was over as soon as it began. According to TMZ, Kramer filed for divorce that August, with both stars waiving their rights to spousal support. However, the paperwork also showed that the couple officially separated just 12 days after their wedding. Needless to say, Kramer and Schaech's union wasn't exactly one of Hollywood's longest marriages.
In a 2016 Reddit AMA, Schaech talked about his brief marriage to the singer, stating, "Jana and I had a wedding but we were never married. It simply came down to this: She wasn't ready to be married. She wanted a singing career and that was what she was focused on."
Her ex posted a photo of their wedding years later
Although Jana Kramer and Jonathon Schaech had moved on, her ex-husband brought up their brief marriage 11 years later. Schaech, who has since remarried his third wife Julie Soloman, and welcomed two kids, shared a photo of their July 2010 wedding on Twitter. Along with the picture, he tweeted, "I had to explain this photo to my son today. I told him I've been married three times. But I got it right when I married his mother."
Kramer didn't keep quiet when she saw her ex-husband's post. On her "Whine Down" podcast, she admitted that she was friends with Schaech and his wife, but wasn't happy with his choice of words. "Why are you posting a photo of our wedding day? ... I don't want to see that photo on Twitter. ... It bothered me," she said.
In a surprising turn of events, Kramer welcomed Schaech on her podcast in April 2022. The two discussed the reasoning behind their failed marriage, with Kramer sharing, "I was trying to fill a void, and there was no way you could've ever filled my need for love ... Unfortunately, we were two very unhealed souls that came together." Schaech got into how he had just come out of a divorce from actor Christina Applegate and had a difficult time moving on. Circling back to the wedding photo, the two agreed to unblock one another on Instagram.
She was briefly engaged to Brantley Gilbert
Jana Kramer got serious with country music star Brantley Gilbert after the two met in June at the 2012 CMT Music Awards. According to Us Weekly, things moved fast for the couple, with Gilbert proposing in January 2013, after the couple had dated for six months. However, by that August, the country duo had called it quits, with distance being the main reason for their split.
Both stars were open about why their relationship ended, with Gilbert sharing in a 2014 radio interview (via The Boot), "Some things happened, and it didn't work out. But we still talk. I think the world of her. She's one of the most genuine people I know. And that's the honest God truth. I think the world of that little girl."
In April 2020, on her "Whine Down" podcast, Kramer reflected on their short engagement and stated that if she were to text an ex one last time, it would be Gilbert. "I'm really sorry for the person that I was and the way that I wasn't healthy enough to be in that relationship. ... I wasn't the best version of myself in that relationship. I just wasn't. I always have a little bit of regret that I didn't handle things better," the songstress said. Gilbert moved on with Amber Cochran, who he has known from his hometown for years, per The Boot. The two wed in June 2015 and have welcomed two kids.
She dated Clint Eastwood's son
A few months after Jana Kramer and Brantley Gilbert called off their plans to wed in August 2013, the songstress was linked to Scott Eastwood, son of director and actor Clint Eastwood. In October, Us Weekly confirmed that the two were in a relationship after they were spotted getting cozy after one of Kramer's concerts. A source shared, "They are definitely into each other." However, the flame quickly burnt out.
While there is not much news on what caused the two actors to call it quits, Us Weekly reported that their romance was short-lived. So, could it have been the former couple's careers blowing up that caused their split? At the time, Scott was quickly making a name for himself in Hollywood with films like 2008's "Gran Torino," 2009's "Invictus," and 2012's "Trouble with the Curve," which also starred his famous father. As for Kramer, the star transitioned from acting to her singing career and released her debut country album in June 2012.
According to People, Scott's relationship history includes Brittany Brousseau and Nina Dobrev. In an interview with GQ Australia in August 2016, the actor revealed that he had lost his girlfriend in a tragic car accident. He shared, "I think that really affected me in a way that ... I don't know. Maybe it's made it harder for me to date."
She fell hard for Mike Caussin
Jana Kramer and former NFL player Mike Caussin's romance had highs and lows from the start. The two got together in the summer of 2014, with Kramer recalling to Us Weekly, "When he walked on to my tour bus, I was like, 'That's the man I'm going to marry.'" But, there was already trouble in paradise when Caussin was accused of cheating while they were dating. They mended their relationship, and Caussin proposed to Kramer on her birthday in December 2014. She shared (via People), "It was a beautiful surprise. He was the perfect gentleman." The two wed on May 22, 2015, with Caussin tweeting a day later, "What a surreal feeling to have married my best friend."
Kramer announced that she was expecting the couple's first child in August 2015, and in January 2016, their daughter Jolie was born. She shared the happy news with People, stating, "Words can't even begin to describe how much happiness I'm feeling right now. Holding my healthy and beautiful baby girl in my arms is something that's truly indescribable. Michael and I are so thankful for this wonderful blessing."
Just a few months after the birth of their daughter, Kramer and Caussin shockingly split and announced that the former tight end was entering rehab. Caussin sought help for sex addiction after cheating on Kramer with multiple women, per Us Weekly.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin gave it another try
Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin didn't give up on their marriage after the country star learned of her husband's infidelities. The pair renewed their wedding vows in Hawaii in December 2017, with Kramer taking to Instagram (via People) to share, "2017 ......you broke my heart, you broke me down you made me question everything, but damn did you make me strong." More happy news arrived when the couple announced they were welcoming their second child. Their son Jace was born in November 2018.
In March 2019, the couple opened up about Caussin's sex addiction on their then-joint podcast "Whine Down with Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin." Caussin shared that he'd been in a 12-step program for the last three years and at that point, had almost been sober for a year. He divulged, "Relapses, yes, but no sex outside the marriage." Kramer further elaborated, "We're just basically happy that someone didn't show up. ... I showed up at the hotel instead. ... If we really want to know."
That October, Kramer shared on her podcast that she discovered a topless photo on Caussin's Apple Watch after he deleted it from his phone. However, both stars believed the picture was a "bot." At one point during the emotional ep, Caussin said, "I am sorry, honey, that I didn't handle it the way that we agreed upon. I didn't handle it the right way for myself, for you, for both of us."
Jana Kramer filed for divorce after six years of marriage
Jana Kramer and Mike Caussin released their self-help book "The Good Fight" in September 2020, which gave an inside look into their rocky marriage and their road to forgiveness. However, they hit another roadblock when Kramer shared a since-deleted selfie on Instagram showing the actor crying after fighting with Caussin. She wrote alongside her March 2021 photo (via People), "No relationship is perfect and when blow ups or fights happen sometimes we believe it's done and over but really it's a moment for growth and more understanding and to lean into your partner."
The following month, Kramer officially filed for divorce from Caussin. She also announced the heartbreaking news on Instagram, writing, "I've fought y'all. I've loved hard. I've forgiven. I've put the work in. I've given everything I have, and now I have nothing else to give." The couple's divorce was final in July 2021.
Child custody documents obtained by E! News revealed that Kramer would spend a majority of the year with their two children. Kramer would also have to pay her ex $3,200 per month for child support. The singer had also agreed to pay Caussin over $500,000 as a settlement. Opening up about her divorce a year later, Kramer said on Instagram, "I'm damn proud of myself for how far I've come and how strong I have been. Wasn't easy to do but I'm leaving the past in the past and all the feelings that have held me back today."
She was linked to Jay Cutler
In September 2021, Jana Kramer was spotted hanging out with former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler. Us Weekly reported that the pair were on a date in Nashville, Tennessee; however, the couple didn't last long and ended things just a month later.
Kramer had no problem clearing the air about her romance with the retired NFL player on her "Whine Down" podcast. In an episode that went up in December 2021, she shared, "Obviously the whole Jay stuff, that became public because we went out and he's a very public person so obviously that came out, but I never spoke on it ... because I didn't know what it was." She added, "Just because I went on a date with someone doesn't mean we're exclusive, and he's my boyfriend. He was never my boyfriend."
Besides his time in the NFL, Cutler is recognized for marrying "Laguna Beach" star Kristin Cavallari in 2013. The two split in April 2020 and are parents to three children. A source for Us Weekly shared that the MTV alum reportedly blocked Kramer on social media when she learned about Kramer's fling with Cutler. Despite this, Kramer told Us Weekly, "I have respect for everyone." She also shared, "The relationship with myself is the one that I'm most focused on right now because I think that's just the one that I have to heal the most."
Her romance with Ian Schinelli didn't last
Jana Kramer gave fans a glimpse of the new man in her life when she went Instagram official with Navy SEAL Ian Schinelli in January 2022. In one of her since-deleted Instagram posts of the two, she wrote (via Us Weekly), "U can heal and be happy at the same time." However, by April, Kramer revealed during an interview with Access Daily that she and Schinelli had split.
On Catt Sadler's "It Sure Is A Beautiful Day" podcast, Kramer opened up about their breakup, sharing, "I think when I truly, truly, truly love myself, I will never settle for things ever again." During their conversation, Kramer hinted that her relationship with Schinelli was becoming too reminiscent of her past, including letting things slide when they should never happen in the first place. Schinelli was not too happy with Kramer's choice of words. Speaking to Us Weekly, he revealed that he was the one to call it quits on their relationship, claiming Kramer was "manipulative" with an "anxious attachment" and said she'd tracked his phone to keep tabs on his whereabouts. He stated, "Her patterns and toxicity. It's like, I literally cut off the fuel in my life to make your life as easy as possible."
The back and forth continued with Kramer accusing Schinelli of being unfaithful. She told Us Weekly, "But I'm happily moving on with my life, and I hope for him to do the same."