Allan Russell and Jana Kramer Paras Griffin/Getty Images for iHeartRadio
Jana Kramer says her life as an influencer is much harder than it looks.
Kramer, 40 — who has 2 million followers on Instagram — complained about shilling products via the app in the Wednesday, October 30, edition of her “Whine Down” podcast.
“The sad reality is it’s a big part of what I do,” she explained to husband Allan Russell, who joined her on the episode. “Unfortunately, that is what pays the bills the most — is promoting products and doing Instagram-influencing.”
Kramer said she “never thought I would ever rely” on doing social media ads “for income,” but “it’s what ultimately pays for a lot of things. And more than anything else that comes in. It’s just the reality with it. I’ve embraced it.”
Kramer, who’s also an actress and singer, also discussed a recent argument that she and Russell, 43, had while she filmed a video for a product that she was promoting via Instagram.
“I think we had a point where we were going through something and, you know, you’re like, ‘I’m not living my dream,’” she said, recalling her response to him: “‘Do you think this is my dream?’ And it wasn’t even me getting angry towards you, it was more [like], ‘This isn’t fun for me either. But I do this because it, A, supports my kids. It gives me a chance to be able to be flexible and be somewhat of a stay-at-home mom. And, like, [be] present. And not be in the grind of being out touring all the time and being away.”
She added: “It’s not like I enjoy doing it. It takes a lot of time.”
When Kramer talks to “anyone who doesn’t understand that world,” they “don’t realize how much time actually goes into [brand partnerships].”
An Instagram Reel “looks like it took 30 to 90 seconds” to film, she said. “It’s actually so much more because you want it to look good and you put the detail into it. It truly becomes a job. And it took up your morning, and you realize how much work actually goes into it.”
Kramer married Russell in July of this year. She and the Scottish former soccer player welcomed a son, Roman, in November 2023. (Kramer shares daughter Jolie, 8, and son Jace, 5, with her ex-husband Mike Caussin).
Two months after she and Russell tied the knot, Kramer spoke with Us Weekly about settling into married life.
“It doesn’t feel like anything’s changed, but also there’s this security that feels really beautiful,” she told Us while promoting her partnership with Orgain, a nutritional supplement company. “We went from being so relaxed and chill in Italy to all kids back to school. … I think we’re finding the balance of how to prioritize us [as a couple] — because that’s also important — while also not missing out on things with the kids and being super present with them, and also having a 10-month-old.”