Jann Arden CM (born Jann Arden Anne Richards on March 27, 1962 in Calgary) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, author and actress. She is best known for her signature ballads, "Could I Be Your Girl" and "Insensitive", which is her biggest hit to date, as well as other ballads, such as "Cherry Popsicle" and "I Would Die for You".
After she graduated high school, Arden settled in Vancouver and sang with a series of bar bands. With these bands, she would sing cover songs of Led Zeppelin, Tina Turner, and Billie Holiday in a variety of locations including lounges, bars and ski resorts.
In addition to her music, Arden has also written memoirs: If I Knew, Don't You Think I'd Tell You? (2002), I'll Tell You One Damn Thing, and That's All I Know! (2004), Falling Backwards (2011) and Feeding My Mother (2017).
Published in 2017, Arden's book Feeding My Mother: Comfort and Laughter in the Kitchen as My Mom Lives with Memory Loss, relates her involvement with her mother while the latter was experiencing Alzheimer's. She discussed that era in the book:
"I am a mother to my mother. It's a massive learning curve, not only because I didn't have children of my own, but because there isn't a handbook telling me what I should or shouldn't be doing. Alzheimer's is a different disease for every single person it inhabits. Everything is trial by fire."
In 2018, she launched The Business of Life, a lifestyle podcast on topics such as entrepreneurship, motherhood, writing, relationships and navigating life challenges, which she cohosts with Arlene Dickinson.
Arden has chosen to remain private about most of her personal life, including romantic relationships. In 2019, she told The Canadian Press while promoting her sitcom Jann, which features a fictional version of her in a relationship with a woman, that she considered herself "fluid." She said earlier in her career she felt pressured to “stand under a word,” be it gay, straight or bisexual. She said she had chosen to keep her relationships private for the sake of her partners.
On social media, Arden has been more open about her love for animals.
Arden has also worked as an actress, with supporting or guest roles in the television series Robson Arms, Corner Gas, Hell on Wheels, The Detour, Workin' Moms and Wynonna Earp. She received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series at the 7th Canadian Screen Awards in 2019, for her appearances as Jane Carlson in Workin' Moms.
She has also performed on stage in productions of The Vagina Monologues, in film as Blanche the snack counter lady in the 2022 film Vandits, and had a voice role as R0-FL, the robot sidekick of Overlord, in the family sitcom Overlord and the Underwoods.
Arden has received a total of 19 Juno Award nominations to date. She has won eight of them, including solo artist of the year in 1994, Songwriter of the Year in 1995 and 2002, and Female Artist of the Year in 1995 and 2001. She has also won awards at the MuchMusic Video Awards, the Prairie Music Awards, the Western Canadian Music Awards and at the ARIA (Alberta Recording Industry Association) Awards.
She has 17 top ten singles from eight albums.
In March 2006, it was announced that she would receive a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. In November 2006, Arden received the National Achievement Award from the Society of Composers, Authors, and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN) for having six singles reach the 100,000 airplay mark on Canadian radio. She was awarded the prize at a gala in Toronto.
In November 2007, Arden was inducted into the Canadian Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and was the winner of the International Achievement Award at the 2007 Western Canadian Music Awards.
In 2012, Arden was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.
On December 29, 2017, Arden was appointed as a Member of the Order of Canada for her 'achievements as a singer-songwriter and broadcaster, and for her extensive charitable work.'
In 2020, Arden was named by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences as its 2020 inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame; however, due to the cancellation of the Juno Awards of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, she actually received her induction tribute at the Juno Awards of 2021.
She won two Canadian Screen Awards at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021, for Best Host in a Talk Show or Entertainment News Show for her 2019 special Jann Arden One Night Only, and Best Host of a Live Entertainment Event for her role as host of the 2019 Giller Prize ceremony.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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