Jacqueline Cole Miskanic Gregg (born May 5, 1996),[1] known professionally as Jax, is an American singer-songwriter from the fourteenth season of American Idol, an American singing competition series.
In 2015, Jax auditioned for the fourteenth season of American Idol, with the song "I Want to Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles.[11] She sang "Toxic" by Britney Spears for her first solo audition during Hollywood Week. Jax sang The Beatles' "Let It Be" for her final solo performance. She was the only contestant out of 80 to be declared safe immediately after the performance.[10] In April 2015, Jax became New Jersey's most successful American Idol contestant.[12] She performed Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" with Steven Tyler during the show's season finale.[13] Jax finished third in the competition, and her first single, "Forcefield", was released following the finale.[14] In July 2015, Jax and the other top five American Idol contestants began the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2015.[15] The tour began in Clearwater, Florida and ended on August 28, 2015, in Riverside, California. The top 3 all released a single each, the top 4 all released an extended play each, American Idol Season 14: Best of Jax - EP, and the season 14 top 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5 all released a contribution each.
Jax's first post-Idol recording, "La La Land", was released on January 6, 2016.[16] Her first music video was released later that day, for "La La Land". The song is lyrically about her experience on American Idol.[17]
In 2018, Jax was invited to perform at the White House's Independence Day celebration.[19] This caused some controversy, due to the feelings surrounding Trump's presidency at the time. Jax then appeared on Fox and Friends to defend her decision to perform at the White House, calling the criticism "vulgarity" and "bullying" rather than political commentary.[20] She continued to explain "I come from a really patriotic family" and that she was intent on honoring the troops during this celebration without listening to the "pettiness" coming from public forums.[21]
JAX performing 'Iconic' with Simple Plan (John Cain Arena, Melbourne)(2024)
In January 2021, she signed a record deal with Atlantic Records.[22] In October 2021, her song "Like My Father" debuted at number 38 on the BillboardAdult Pop Airplay, her first song to chart on Billboard's charts.[23]
In November 2021, Jax posted a dramatic TikTok reading of her ex-boyfriend's apology text messages after he cheated on her. The reading was accompanied by sad violin music by Lindsey Stirling.[24] Jax and Stirling say they received hundreds of similar text messages from fans, and plan to turn them into a TikTok series.[25]
In 2022, she released "Victoria's Secret." The single charted at number thirty-five on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as being certified Gold in the United States. It also charted in Australia, Ireland, Canada, Sweden, and New Zealand.[26] Her next single, "Cinderella Snapped"[27] did not chart in the Hot 100. In October 2023, Jax joined Canadian rock band Simple Plan for a re-recorded version of the track "Iconic" from their 2022 album Harder Than It Looks.[28] In 2024, Jax joined Simple Plan on their Australian tour, with We the Kings and Boys Like Girls.[29] On June 28, 2024, she released her debut studio album Dear Joe,.
Personal life
In August 2016, Jax revealed that she was battling thyroid cancer,[2] but has been declared cancer-free since then.[citation needed]
Jax talked about her difficult pregnancy journey in videos on her Instagram after many miscarriages. She is currently pregnant with her first child with her husband Brave Gregg as of November 2024.
^Makin, Cheryl (May 29, 2017). "Jax in her 'happy place' with upcoming Jersey show". My Central Jersey. Retrieved May 26, 2018. During the tour's stop in New Orleans, Jax turned 21 — on May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) [2017]
^Makin, Cheryl (March 10, 2015). "Jax keeping it real on American Idol". Courier News. Retrieved August 13, 2019. Home schooled since the eighth grade, Jax left the township school system to pursue her musical dreams. She performed, toured, took voice lessons with a renowned vocal coach (same as Lady Gaga) and practiced nonstop in her basement recording studio.
^Jax in Bronson, Fred (January 7, 2016). "'American Idol' Alum Jax Addresses 'Sometimes Bitter' TV Experience in 'La La Land' Video: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017. [I]t was the platform of a lifetime and it opened up all these doors for me. ... But at the same time it's not as glamorous as it looks. People don't know. There are things I'm sometimes bitter about, about the way things were handled. ... [The song is] the closest I can give you to a backstage pass.
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