Jann Arden at Home

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ‘I LIKE WHO I AM!’ JANN ARDEN WITH A NEW MEMOIR, A NEW ALBUM AND A HIT TV SERIES, ‘You don’t want to be in a romantic relationship THE CANADIAN STAR IS HAVING with me because it will end up on a record ... THE TIME OF HER LIFE TV Jann dates more than I do!’ hatting with Jann Arden feels like having a have my little dog. I live on a fairly less critical and much more like them at a party or at somebody C heart-to-heart with your best friend. Easy- big piece of land by a river. I have cheering you on, like, “You can do else’s get-together or at a club or in going, funny and honest, the multiplatinum nothing to complain about at all. it! You can get it! Try out for that a class, you realize how much time Canadian singer-songwriter, actress and author My life really didn’t change all that job! Just do it anyway! Move if you you need to invest if you want an has a way with words and doesn’t shy away from much because when I’m home, I’m want to! Paint that wall!” Whereas authentic, earnest, valuable, in- telling it like it is. quite isolated. I do all my writing everything before that just seems timate friendship. There must be These days, Jann is imparting life lessons on here, I do recording here. I’ve like, “No, I don’t deserve to make a reciprocity. To have a friend, you aging – or, rather, the pleasure of finally getting written more music in the past six decision that has merit.” must be a friend. And especially in to an age that infuses her with confidence, clarity months than I have in the past three your 50s when you’re well over the and a strong sense of self. It’s the product of years! I’ve got lots of wildlife here, You battled alcoholism but have halfway mark, if your friendships turning into a “crone,” she says, eloquently de- I’ve got a road that no one is ever on been sober for the past four years. are tattered, you have to look at ‘The middle is where scribing the term as a “kick-ass, take-no-prisoners, that I walk all the time. I do a pod- How has it changed you? One your own life. It’s as simple as that! it’s at, people!’ writes damn-the-torpedoes, own-your-own-crap, great cast every week. I’ve been writing thing I didn’t think I’d ever be able You become what your friends are. Jann in her new kind of person to be.” For Jann, being a crone season 3 of Jann. I’ve done dozens to say in my life – and this may seem They’re your greatest resource and memoir (above), where is nothing short of extraordinary. of Zoom calls. I’ve been busy! trite – is that I really like myself. I your only way forward as you age. she imparts valuable “I always tell people, ‘You don’t even start like my own company. I like who I life lessons she hopes becoming a person until you’re 40,’” Jann, 58, Sounds tiring! How did you unwind? am. I like how I am with people. I Have your romantic relationships young people will take tells us via FaceTime from her home on south- I read a lot of books about the like how I’m making my way in the or requirements changed as well? to heart. Below: On ern Alberta’s Elbow River. “They look at me like Roman Empire. And I read two or world. I like how I use my voice. I Oh, I think so – a lot! For 35 years, the set of her sitcom, I’ve got five heads! But I think those of us in three books about Cleopatra be- like making mistakes. And that is I never came up for air. I’ve been Jann. ‘We’re fnished our 50s realize that to be true.” cause I was fascinated by her ... She the goal of time spent alone: to single now for over four years and writing season 3 and Quarantining with her BFF – a 12-year-old was supposed to be this beautiful actually have a fondness for self it’s the best thing that I’ve ever will start flming in Morkie named Midi – Jann is actually having an woman but so many writers are and a true appreciation for who done. I think my habits were too January here in incredible year. Not only is she releasing her saying no, she was actually very you are, the kind of person you dive-right-back-into-the-abyss- Alberta in the dead of candid and poignant memoir If I Knew Then: average-looking but had an enor- are. It is so important to be able to again. But I’ve had to look at my winter – it should be a Finding Wisdom in Failure and Power in Aging (on mous amount of sex appeal because say that out loud and really have behaviour, too. I’ve had to put that good time!’ she Oct. 27), she’s also returned to TV screens in she was so friggin’ smart and witty someone else bear witness to that on the table and go: “You’re the says, chuckling. Jann, the sitcom loosely based on her life, now and funny! She spoke seven lan- self-worth. It is a very hard uphill common denominator in all these in its second season. She has a brand-new album guages. Men found her irresistible climb to discover that. failed three-year, five-year, 10-year out, Hits & Other Gems, featuring fan favourites for all the other reasons than what relationships.” Also, not drinking like “Could I Be Your Girl” and “Insensitive.” we would think of. You attribute your independence and being more clear-headed and She has a weekly podcast and thriving social- to your mom, who had a difficult putting myself back into just being media presence. And although the happily What’s it like living in such a remote marriage and passed away from creative – I’ve really enjoyed it! I’m single Calgary native was sad to cancel her location? It’s kind of like the wildlife Alzheimer’s disease in 2018. When in a really good place and not cross-Canada tour in April, she was thrilled to highway! I’m a little reluctant in I was 15, she said to me, “Jann, I become the first 2020 inductee into the Canadian the early mornings or evenings to go hope you aspire to more than just Music Hall of Fame just days into lockdown. down [by the river] because those getting married.” When you have In our exclusive chat, the Juno winner and are the killing fields. It’s literally your own mother telling you that member of the Order of Canada gets real about bears, cougars, foxes, coyotes and – and I know it’s because she friendships, family and how she has learned to lots of predators. Things live and die wished for a different outcome in finally live her best life in her own spectacular way. very quickly out here! This morning her own life – I thought that was I saw deer and foxes walking the pretty friggin’ awesome. Congratulations on such an amazing fall, Jann! perimeter. They’re just curious to How does it feel to be everywhere? Well, [the see if I left a bag of hotdog buns on You claim that your friends are timing] is a bit deceiving. The TV show was the deck! your greatest successes. Have your supposed to be out in March, the greatest hits ‘When I was eight or nine, friendships changed over the years? package was supposed to be out at the beginning my mom said to me, “You’re What prompted you to write a book Making friends as you get older is of May. Everything got pushed into five weeks. going to die someday so about aging? I became a crone. I felt a real art form. People have very It seems like I’m really a keener and very ac- make the best of it!”’ says her move in about four years ago established lives, they have very complished! But it’s a little bit of a fib because Jann. Today, at 58, the and she’s still moving in … When established routines, they are busy COVID changed the game. multi-talented Albertan is at the real sense of self moves in, the with their extended families. So her fnest in mind, body and conversations we start having in our when you make a decision to have What have you been doing during lockdown? I spirit and has no intention own heads become less volatile, a new friend, whether you meet of slowing down. ALKAN EMIN; PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE; CTV CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: 20 HELLOMAGAZINE.CA HELLO! 21 ‘Oh my God, ‘You don’t even the things start becoming I’ve done in a person until my life!’ you’re 40’ interested in [a relationship] event in Toronto celebrating at all right now. I don’t even Canadian artists and I was know what that looks like singing that night. I hadn’t fol- going forward. It is not a re- lowed the royals a lot in my life quirement. That’s not on a but my mom was very excited piece of paper that says, “Must that I was meeting him! We find partner!” It’s nowhere to lined up and he shook my hand be seen right now and that’s and said [mimics British accent]: pretty cool.

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