General Hospital
Jonathan Jackson Interview: His Daytime Emmy Nom as GH's Lucky & Role in New Primetime Soap, Nashville!
Photo Credit: Kathy Hutchins
What a week this has been for Jonathan Jackson! First, the already four-time Daytime Emmy winner gets nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his role as Lucky Spencer on General Hospital when the 39th Daytime Emmy nominations were announced on Wednesday. Then Friday, his primetime soap pilot, Nashville, gets picked up and is going to series and will premiere this fall on ABC! Nashville stars Jackson along with a stellar cast of Connie Britton, Powers Boothe, Eric Close, and Hayden Panettiere! And to top it off, he celebrated his birthday yesterday! Lots of great gifts we would say, for probably one of the finest actors to ever grace the soap opera genre.
Jonathan Jackson’s work on GH in 2011 was transcendent. Storyline after storyline he delivered in spectacular fashion; acting acrobatics and realism, and such emotional depth to the life of Lucky Spencer that we the viewers cried right along with him. If any nominee up for this year’s Daytime Emmy had a banner year, it was Jackson.
On-Air On-Soaps caught up with the talented young star to get his take on all the good fortune and great news!
Jonathan, here we are again! Congratulations on your Daytime Emmy nomination, in a year when you delivered one powerhouse performance after another, after another! How do you feel about the nod this time around?
JONATHAN: It is pretty cool! I am thrilled and very thankful. Each year has its own unique set of circumstances. I am excited for all the nominees as well, and especially the GH family.
Courtesy/ABC
In my mind, you had a bunch of episodes to choose from. It was almost an embarrassment of riches, but all of the performances were knockouts! Which episode did you go with for the Emmys, and why?
JONATHAN: There was a lot from the amount of storylines and episodes, and from the intensity of what they asked me to do. It was way more than usual in terms of serious choices to look at. But, I ended up going with the episode at the Haunted Star where Lucky told Luke that he was the driver who hit Jake. It was when Lucky was asking him how much he had been drinking. And, there were six or seven scenes with Tony Geary (Luke) and I. There were a lot of different shows to look at, but that particular one just was a really special show for me and for Tony, as well. Something just happened when we were doing those scenes, so that is why I went with that. It just seemed like a complete show, with a beginning, middle and end to it.
You had so many great moments on GH last year, but I think my favorite was your scenes in Luke’s intervention. Was that in the running as one of the final choices?
JONATHAN: I did consider it, absolutely! There was Luke’s intervention, the material with Tony when Luke was at the Bordello, and the episodes with Jake dying. There was also Lucky getting drugged up for two days. I mean, there were so many, it was literally like there were a lot of different options. The intervention was really powerful and that was another one of those moments I will cherish with Tony. But in terms of an entire episode, this one that I chose had the same quality as the intervention, but it has six or seven scenes in it, as opposed to the one big scene in the intervention.
How did you find out you got nominated?
Courtesy/Jim Warren
JONATHAN: I got a text from a friend, but really did not make much of it, and fell back asleep. But then my kids came in and told me, “Congratulations”. I guess they had talked to someone and found out. And so I found out from them, which was cool, and really sweet.
Did you and Tony Geary contact each other on Emmy Nomination day and offer each other congrats?
JONATHAN: We did not speak in person, but we did leave each other messages. But I was super excited for him. And like I was saying, this last year on the show really meant a lot because of the amount of stuff he and I got to do together. It was something we had been talking about during the years I had been away from GH … that we wanted to work with each other again and do some great work. That is one of the reasons it is so special. I feel I did honor what I wanted to do with Tony, by picking this episode for Emmy contention.
I spoke with the fantastic Jason Thompson (Patrick) your co-nominee from GH. He said, “Listen, I am going to take out all the supporting guys from GH before the Emmy ceremonies!” (Laughs) He also gave you praise when he said he had an episode that he liked of his work, when Patrick was in scenes with Lucky when Jake died. However, since you were in it and doing such incredible work, he wouldn’t submit it! (Laughs)
JONATHAN: (Laughs) I love Jason. I think he is an incredible actor and I was really excited for him to get his nomination.
You have been very busy since you left GH. You landed Nashville, which was just greenlighted by ABC to go to series this fall! Did you get the break you wanted from GH, with all the emotional sturm and drang of the day in and day out of playing Lucky Spencer?
Courtesy/Enation
JONATHAN: Well, I have been working really hard on my band, Enation, and I have been doing quite a few writing projects and also Nashville. It’s been pretty busy, but it’s been a different kind of busy than GH, which I think was healthy. The GH grind, mentally and emotionally, got too intense there. It’s been great now. I feel like I have a whole other part of my brain available for my kids and for other projects.
The big question is, now that Frank Valentini and Ron Carlivati are steering the ship at GH, would you consider a return to the series?
JONATHAN: I have been staying in touch with GH. There is always a possibility to come back and do some more work there in the future. I just love everybody there.
Tell me about Nashville! Fans will not only get to see you act in the new primetime series, but sing as well?
JONATHAN: Yeah, the character is a singer/songwriter. I am so glad it got picked up and it’s really exciting! It’s an amazing group of people. Callie Khouri is the writer, and R J. Cutler is a wonderful director to work with. He really has a passion for the characters and the show. We are combining some amazing music in the Nashville scene with really great story and character-driven drama. It just has a very authentic feel to it, and I think they are committed to making a very high quality show.
Is the character you play on Nashville, Avery, a good guy or a bad guy? Or, we don’t know yet?
JONATHAN: That is the one of the good things about the way that Callie developed the characters. And that is that there really aren’t too many black and white characters of good guys and bad guys. There are people who make bad choices, and more troubled people who end up making really good choices. I think that as the show progresses it will keep the audience guessing, and keep them interested as to who these people are. My character is a little bit of a narcissist, but I would not say he is a bad guy. I would say he is a little troubled and sort of arrogant on the surface. However, I think there is a lot of depth to him and a lot to explore with the character.
One of your long-time co-stars, Becky Herbst (Elizabeth), got nominated for Supporting Actress for her work in Jake’s death. I am very thrilled for her.
Photo Credit: Steven Bergman
JONATHAN: Oh me, too! I am so excited about that! She did some incredible work. I am grateful that she got recognized for it.
So Jonathan, you could win your fifth Daytime Emmy. Do you have a mantle to hold all of this gold? When you look at the trophies, what does it mean for you?
JONATHAN: It’s pretty crazy! (Laughs) I guess for me, they all follow memories I had with amazing people. Like last year’s Emmy and submission, it was the stuff with Becky Herbst and Tyler Christopher (Ex- Nikolas). That holds a very special place in my heart. Acting is a team sport. So when any of us gets recognized, we can only give credit to the people that we worked with … and I have worked with some incredible people!
He is so talented and seems like such a genuinely nice guy! Very happy for all of his success and hope he makes it back to GH sometime. By and large the GH cast just seem like very nice normal people with very little ego or diva stuff. Cngratulations JJ! Good interview Michael as usual!
This man from the get go got my vote, anybody that young working with a Soap Opera Great Tony Geary you knew Jackson was good. Same with Miss Alderson working with another great Howarth. Anyway thats what I think.
Me to.
JJ is a class act. Miss him terribly on GH, but wish him well with Nashville and his other projects.
I love Jonathan’s acting, but I just took a listen to his album, Soul & Story: Volume One, and it’s incredible. Beautiful, soulful acoustics – he’s got a great voice. He said he’s put hard work into his band and what he’s created has so paid off. Check it out folks, very impressive!!!
You always publish the best interviews with JJ. Thanks for asking all the right questions.
Great Interview. Thank you. Mr. Jackson is right his work with Tony Geary, and in the past Genie Francis…. well is in a league all of it’s own….and The Triple L are still golden each nominated for an Emmy this year. Congrats to Jonathan, Genie, Tony, Becky…. I so need a Spencer family redemption/reunion before GH ends!!! I was lucky to meet Mr. Jackson a few times and he is a class act all the way around. So excited for both him and us regarding his pilot being picked up, and the success of his music career. Can’t get enough of this man’s work…or interviews with him… so thanks Mr. Fairman for sharing this with us.
I’m so excited for Jonathan Jackson and plan on watching his new show, Nashville. I’m also a big fan of his music and was lucky enough to see him perform live and meet him. He is such a nice guy and very appreciative of everything in his life and that is always evident in any interview he does. Another great interview. Thanks
Jonathan Jackson is one of those rare acters who is so in the moment when he works, that you forget you are watching an acter in a scene. So happy for his Emmy nomination and for all the nods for GH, OLTL, and AMC! Thanks for another great interview!
Did someone say Connie Britton? I’m there! LOVE her!
Another great article. He picked a great scene to submit to the Emmies, too. Very powerful and emotional scene between him and Mr. Geary. Can’t wait to see Nashville when it comes out!
Incredible acting, the drug induced storyline was extremely emotional. Kudo to Jonathan Jackson for his superb acting. Enation has been touring and blessing the east coast with heartfelt meet and greet concerts. Wonderful music with lyrical depth He is a humble, spiritually driven young man. It is a joy to watch him succeed.
I am soooo happy for Jonathan Jackson – love him on GH and I think his band is great. Good news that the pilot for his new show, Nashville, got picked up. Would love to see JJ return to GH on occasions and continue his role as Lucky. He and Tony Geary are so wonderful together – just like a real father and son. I also love his scenes with Rebecca/Elizabeth – they make a really good couple. Add to that his Emmy nomination for supporting actor – this is the icing on the cake!!! Congrats to you JJ/Lucky – you deserve all of the above kudos!!!
Congratulation on the emmy nomination and the new show.I returned to wathing GH when you did,and I can understand your leaving. How much emotional storyline can a body take.
Congrats also to your beautiful family,and hope your singing career picks up because of the show.
Will be rooting for you.
Breaking News
(WATCH) 2024 Daytime Emmy Nominations Special Live!
After exciting morning for your favorite daytime stars when they were revealed to be nominees for the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards comes tonight 10th annual Daytime Emmy Nominations Special.
Beginning at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT, several of the nominees will talk with Michael Fairman on their reactions to the news they have been nominated for a Daytime Emmy, share what scenes they submitted that landed in the top five or six in their respective performer acting categories and much more.
Scheduled to appear are: Days of our Lives nominees, Tamara Braun (Ava), Eric Martsolf (Brady) and Linsey Godfrey (Sarah), The Young and the Restless nominees: Allison Lanier (Summer), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis), Courtney Hope (Sally), Bryton James (Devon), The Bold and the Beautiful’s John McCook (Eric), General Hospital nominees, Finola Hughes (Anna) and Alley Mills (Heather), and The Bay’s Mike Manning (Caleb).
Photo: JPI
The 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be broadcast live on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ on Friday night, June 7th and emanating, once again this year from the Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
Photo: JPI
For a full list of this year’s nominations click here.
Now, watch below as the stars chat it up as we celebrate their Daytime Emmy Nominations. If you have a potential question you might want posed to any of our guests, drop it in the comment section below and we just might ask it on air.
Breaking News
51st Annual Daytime Emmy Award Nominations: CBS Soaps Score Most, Eric Braeden, Dick Van Dyke, Guy Pearce Receive Nods
The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) have officially announced on Friday, the full list of nominees for the 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards.
While Thursday brought with it four reveals of the nominees in the Outstanding Daytime Drama, Talk Show Host, Lead Actor and Actress categories (as presented by various entertainment news programs), today’s nominations include all the other categories not previously announced.
The Daytime Emmy Awards telecast is set to be presented live on Friday night, June 7, at 8 PM EDT /delayed PT, on the CBS Television Network, and available to stream live and on-demand on Paramount+. This will mark the 18th time that CBS has broadcast the Daytime Emmys.
Photo: JPI
In addition, The Daytime Creative Arts & Lifestyle Emmy Awards will be presented on Saturday, June 8 at t9 PM ET/6 PM PT and streamed on The Emmys apps and at watch.TheEmmys.tv. The ceremonies will take place at the Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles.
Television icon, Dick Van Dyke has received his first-ever Daytime Emmy nomination in the Outstanding Guest Performer category for his touching portrayal of Timothy Robicheaux on Peacock’s Days of our Lives. The nomination makes Van Dyke the oldest Daytime Emmy nominee in history at 98-years-old. In addition, motion picture and TV star, Guy Pearce, is also nominated as Guest Performer for his longtime role as Mike Young in the reboot of Neighbours.
Speaking of Neighbours, the Australian soap opera also received its first ever Daytime Emmy nomination for Daytime Drama Series now that its a revival can be streamed on Amazon Freevee. In addition, The Young and the Restless iconic, Eric Braeden (Victor Newman) received his first Daytime Emmy nomination in more than 20 years in the Lead Actor in a Drama Series category.
Photo: AmazonFreevee
In the Daytime Drama series categories, CBS’ The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless each scored 12 nominations more than any other show. Leading the acting nominations was B&B, who landed 7 performers in the various categories, a first in its 37-year history.
In a statement, Adam Sharp, President & CEO, NATAS expressed, “We are happy to once again honor the creative talent both in front of and behind the camera of America’s favorite Daytime programs. We look forward to celebrating the icons who enliven the days of audiences across the country.”
Photo: JPI
Brent Stanton, Head of Daytime, NATAS added, “Producing the Daytime Emmys is a labor of love for all of us at NATAS. The huge popularity of these shows continues to be must-see viewing for their fans.” NATAS also revealed that Lifetime Achievement Honorees, Hosts, Presenters, and Silver and Gold Circle honorees will be revealed at a later date.
The Daytime Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in television programming honoring work in a variety of categories, including daytime dramas, talk shows, instructional programming, hosting, culinary, and legal/courtroom programs. In 2021, NATAS and the Television Academy jointly announced plans to realign the Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards to be organized by content genre, as opposed to program airtime.
The 51st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be produced once again by NATAS and Associated Television International (ATI). Adam Sharp and Lisa Armstrong are executive producers from NATAS, while David McKenzie executive produces from ATI.
Congratulations to all the men and women in front of the camera and behind the scenes for their recognition as we take a look at who will be going for gold come June. Here are the nominees below starting with the Daytime Drama Categories.
Photo: JPI
OUTSTANDING DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES
The Bay
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of our Lives
General Hospital
Neighbours
The Young and the Restless
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES: ACTRESS
Tamara Braun, Days of our Lives
Finola Hughes, General Hospital
Katherine Kelly Lang, The Bold and the Beautiful
Annika Noelle, The Bold and the Beautiful
Michelle Stafford, The Young and the Restless
Cynthia Watros, General Hospital
Photo: JPI
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES: ACTOR
Eric Braeden, The Young and the Restless
Scott Clifton, The Bold and the Beautiful
Thorsten Kaye, The Bold and the Beautiful
Eric Martsolf, Days of our Lives
John McCook, The Bold and the Beautiful
Photo: JPI
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES: ACTRESS
Jennifer Gareis, The Bold and the Beautiful
Linsey Godfrey, Days of our Lives
Courtney Hope, The Young and the Restless
Allison Lanier, The Young and the Restless
Emily O’Brien, Days of our Lives
Photo: JPI
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES: ACTOR
Robert Gossett, General Hospital
Bryton James, The Young and the Restless
Wally Kurth, Days of our Lives
A Martinez, The Bay
Mike Manning, The Bay
Photo: JPI
OUTSTANDING GUEST PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES
Linden Ashby, The Young and the Restless
Ashley Jones, The Bold and the Beautiful
Alley Mills, General Hospital
Guy Pearce, Neighbours
Dick Van Dyke, Days of our Lives
OUTSTANDING WRITING TEAM FOR A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES
The Bay
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
Photo: JPI
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING TEAM FOR A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES
The Bay
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of our Lives
General Hospital
The Young and the Restless
OUTSTANDING LIGHTING DIRECTION
General Hospital
The Jennifer Hudson Show
The Kelly Clarkson Show
The View
Photo: ABC
OUTSTANDING TECHNICAL DIRECTION, CAMERAWORK, VIDEO
The Bold and the Beautiful
Days of our Lives
Disney Parks Magical Christmas Day Parade
The Kelly Clarkson Show
OUTSTANDING CASTING
African Queens: Njinga
Days of our Lives
General Hospital
Start Up
The Young and the Restless
OUTSTANDING ART DIRECTION/SET DECORATION/SCENIC DESIGN
African Queens: Njinga
The Drew Barrymore Show
General Hospital
The Kelly Clarkson Show
The View
The Young and the Restless
OUTSTANDING COSTUME DESIGN/STYLING
African Queens: Njinga
The Bold and the Beautiful
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Sherri
Photo: WarnerBros
OUTSTANDING HAIRSTYLING AND MAKEUP
African Queens: Njinga
The Drew Barrymore Show
Sherri
The View
The Young and the Restless
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG
“Shine” General Hospital
“Unexpected Truth”Unexpected
“We’re Home” Reconnecting Roots
OUTSTANDING DAYTIME TALK SERIES
The Jennifer Hudson Show
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Tamron Hall
Turning The Tables with Robin Roberts
The View
Photo: ABC
OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINMENT NEWS SERIES
Access Hollywood
Entertainment Tonight
Extra
OUTSTANDING CULINARY SERIES
Be My Guest with Ina Garten
Family Dinner
Selena + Chef: Home for the Holidays
Valerie’s Home Cooking
What Am I Eating? with Zooey Deschanel
OUTSTANDING LEGAL/COURTROOM PROGRAM
Hot Bench
Judy Justice
Justice For The People with Judge Milian
The People’s Court
We The People with Judge Lauren Lake
Photo: Disney/ABC
DAYTIME TALK SERIES HOST
Joy Behar, Whoopi Goldberg, Alyssa Farah Griffin, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro, The View
Kelly Clarkson, The Kelly Clarkson Show
Mark Consuelos, Kelly Ripa, Live with Kelly and Mark
Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell, Sheryl Underwood, The Talk
Tamron Hall, Tamron Hall
OUTSTANDING CULINARY HOST
Lidia Bastianich, 25 Years with Lidia: A Culinary Jubilee
Valerie Bertinelli, Valerie’s Home Cooking
Eduardo Garcia, Big Sky Kitchen with Eduardo Garcia
Emeril Lagasse, Emeril Cooks
Sophia Roe, Counter Space
Buddy Valastro, Legends of the Fork
OUTSTANDING DAYTIME PERSONALITY – DAILY
Frank Caprio, Caught in Providence
Kevin Frazier, Nischelle Turner , Matt Cohen, Cassie DiLaura, Denny Directo, Will Marfuggi, Rachel Smith, Entertainment Tonight
Deborah Norville, Steven Fabian, Lisa Guerrero, Ann Mercogliano, Jim Moret, Les Trent. Inside Edition
Robert Hernandez, Star Jones, Divorce Court
Judge Judy Sheindlin, Whitney Kumar, Kevin Rasco, Sarah Rose, Judy Justice
What do you think about the nominations for the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Who do you think deserved to get in that did? Who do you think got snubbed? Who are you happiest to see receive a nomination? Let us know via the comment section below.
Make sure to be with us live starting tonight Friday, April 19th at 8pm ET/5pm PT for the Michael Fairman Channel’s 10th anniversary edition of its Daytime Emmy Nomination Special 2024, featuring some of the just announced daytime drama nominees.
Breaking News
51st Daytime Emmys: Outstanding Daytime Drama Series Nominations
On Thursday, the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards revealed nominations in several key categories via four entertainment news programs: Access Hollywood, E! News, Extra and Access Hollywood.
Three of the four announcements were major categories in the field of Daytime Dramas.
The nominees in the Outstanding Daytime Drama Series category are: The Bay, The Bold and the Beautiful, Days of our Lives, General Hospital, Neighbours and The Young and the Restless.
Photo: JPI
General Hospital won this category last year, and has the most all-time wins for a series in this category. For the first time, the beloved Australian-based soap opera, Neighbours is now eligible for competition due to its reboot which streams on Amazon Freevee.
Photo: AmazonFreevee
The 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards will be handed out in ceremonies in Los Angeles and broadcast live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ on Friday night, June 7th.
Previous categories announced tonight via the entertainment news outlet included: Lead Actor and Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
So, what do you think about this year’s nominee for the Outstanding Daytime Drama Series? Who do you think should win? Comment below.
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(WATCH) 2024 Daytime Emmy Nominations Special Live!
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51st Daytime Emmys: Mark Consuelos and Kelly Ripa Receive Talk Show Host Nominations
General Hospital’s Steve Burton Reveals the Emotional Scene He Almost Could Not Get Through
Stephen Schnetzer Talks On His Return to Days of our Lives and Working with Susan Seaforth Hayes In Emotional Episodes
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