Jenny Jackson

Jennifer Melanie Jackson (née Davidson, May 7, 1970 March 19, 2022) was a Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress. Born in, and raised in the Manitoba– border town of , she began her career in 1995 at the age of 24 after winning a contest organized by  radio.

Jackson's breakthrough occurred in 1999, when her single "Stay With Me" became a major crossover hit, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Adult Alternative Airplay charts and #5 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as #1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in her native Canada. The success of "Stay With Me" led to a record deal with Maverick Records Nashville and the release of her third studio album Blue Moon. In 2001, she released her fourth album Wide Awake. It is noted for blending country pop and contemporary folk music with alternative rock sensibilities. The album's singles received airplay on both country music and alternative rock stations, formats that rarely interact. Jackson has since released several more studio albums, including Out West (2003) and Vancouver Sunset (2006).

Jackson also portrayed the character Hanna in the 1998 film Orange Creek. She has also provided both the speaking and singing voices for the character Charlie in the animated series Mole Miner (2001–2007, 2020–2021).

Jackson died on March 19, 2022 at age 51 after being infected with COVID-19.

Early life
Jackson was born as Jennifer Melanie Davidson on May 7, 1970 in, , at , but was raised in , a mining town on the Manitoba– border. She is the second daughter of Aliza Pateman and Tyler Smith Davidson. She is of English, Irish, and Spanish descent. She attended Hapnot Collegiate Institute in Flin Flon.

In 1994, she returned to her birthplace of Winnipeg to attend the. During this time, she was convinced by her high school music teacher to enter a contest looking for "Future Canadian Country Stars". Jackson applied, sending in her original composition "Quiet Talk". "Quiet Talk" was the winning entry of the contest, and after graduation, she decided to focus on her music career, relocating to,.

1995-1998: Hourglass and I Won't Back Down
Jackson released her debut single, "Hourglass", in 1995 under. The album, Hourglass, earned Jackson a nomination for Country Female Vocalist of the Year at the Juno Awards. Her next album, I Won't Back Down, was released in 1998 and featured a cover of the song of the same name as its title track. Both albums were produced by at.

1999-2001: Mainstream success with Blue Moon and Wide Awake
In late-1998, Jackson recorded material at Greenhouse Studios for her third album under production from Bruce Fairbairn. The song "Stay With Me", co-written by and Daniel G. Mortensen, was released in March 1999. A month later, American country singer Carter Randell praised the single and mentioned his interest in Jackson's music in an CMT interview, and made a viral video on VidSpace where he, Fernande Soulier, bassist  and  anchorman  lip-synced and danced to "Stay With Me". Randell's label, Maverick Records Nashville, signed Jackson to a U.S. record deal. "Stay With Me" topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Adult Alternative Airplay charts, and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. In Canada, the song topped the RPM Country Tracks chart.