Jana Kramer is a country singer who has a popular podcast and who took her cheating husband back. We know because she told everyone about it and because she talks about it frequently on her podcast. Former NFL player Mike Caussin cheated on Jana when they were dating, he cheated on her after they got married and had a baby, and then he went to rehab and she took him back. Then he cheated again, which they called a “relapse” and for which he went to treatment again. She of course took him back, rinse and repeat. Oh and they had another baby somewhere in there. Jana’s perspective is that everyone cheats basically, and Mike is in treatment for it so that’s better than nothing. They talked about it to Us Magazine at a live recording of their podcast, Whine Down.
After Jana Kramer revealed that husband Mike Caussin had a sex addiction relapse about a year ago, the couple are moving forward with their marriage … and explaining to Us Weekly how the NFL alum has been straying on the straight and narrow in the months since the setback.
“It’s been a combination of meditation, 12-Step meetings, therapy,” Caussin, 32, told Us at a live recording of Kramer’s “Whine Down” podcast sponsored by Thrive Market earlier this month. “I have a weekly men’s group that I go to [in which] we all kind of keep each other in check. Just trying to be as honest as I can with Jana and with the people in my support system. … Those are just things that I do that keep me in my right mind and keep me sober and keep me healthy.”
Caussin and Kramer, 35 — who are the parents of daughter Jolie, 3, and son Jace, 4 months — divulged the “massive relapse” during a March episode of “Whine Down,” two and a half years after the former athlete’s first cheating scandal made headlines. On the podcast, Caussin clarified that the latest incident involved “no sex” and that “there wasn’t any other affair since that moment.”
[Jana] elaborated: “Yes, it wasn’t physical out of the marriage, but it was something where the action was basically … We’re just basically happy that someone didn’t show up. … I showed up at the hotel instead, if you really want to know.”
Kramer revealed her mindset regarding relapses at the same event. “Here’s the thing: Whether you’re an addict or not, something could always happen,” she told Us. “Anyone can cheat. Someone can cheat right now or tomorrow. … Of course, [with] an addict, I think there’s always that chance that it’s a higher chance, but I also know that where he’s at now, and the work we’ve done in our relationship … He’s got to live day by day, and in this moment today, I know he’s sober and he’s healthy and we’re happy.”
So Jana knew that Mike was meeting someone at a hotel and she showed up and stopped it? That’s crazy. This may be controversial to say but I hate the excuse that sex is an addiction! It’s a real addiction, I’m not saying it isn’t, but people are still responsible for their actions. While it may technically be true that “anyone can cheat,” it’s much more likely if that person has cheated in the past and if they’re actively seeking out other partners, which Mike is obviously doing. I’ve wasted way too much time thinking about these people though. Jana is going to continue to cling and excuse Mike and he’s going to continue to be tempted because that’s who he is. At least they’re cashing in on their dysfunction.
Oh and I tried to listen to that French couples therapist who has a podcast where she counsels couples, Esther Peele’s Where Should We Begin. I listened to the one where she counseled the older couple where the husband had cheated on his wife throughout their whole relationship. I hated it! I thought she was going way too easy on him and that the wife would be way better off without him.
Photos credit: WENN, Getty and via Instagram
Its possibly to find a spouse who doesnt cheat, but dont be surprised if you stay with someone who cheated and they promise to not do it again, and than they do. Her husband sounds like a piece of garbage honestly and i cant believe she would put up with that.
Some people are very loyal, dont lump everyone in with your cheating hubby.
I don’t think every healthy relationship looks alike, and I do think people can have happy open relationships if both partners are on the same page, but that’s not what’s going on here. He’s sleeping around on her constantly and if she’s showing up to stop it, she’s clearly not okay with it. He needs to commit himself to a life of monogamy or they both need to grow up and end things.
This .
I don’t think it could work for me, but I find the honesty behind an open relationship better than this kind of toxic dynamic.
Exactly. It sure seems like she’s not okay with this. So why is she okay with this?
Also…. It’s only cheating because the agreement was to be monagomous. I’m in an open relationship and I know a lot of others who are too. I’ve also had long monogamous relationships. The details differ from relationship to relationship but the big rules are always the same: follow the mutally accepted rules, and don’t lie to anyone. If I was hiding someone else from my primary guy, that would still be cheating because even though we see other people, we don’t lie to each other. So yeah, these folks are living a lie.
The river runs deep with this one.
Uh, no. I’ve known people who have had affairs and most of them were in miserable relationships, looking for an emotional connection that they (for whatever reason) couldn’t find in their relationship. The affair was the wake-up call that they needed to fix or end their marriage (and I’ve seen both happen post infidelity). But THIS is something else entirely. This guy just sounds like a jerk.
Did they write “straying on the straight and narrow” just to be shady? If so, kudos.
Hahaha, I noticed that straight away and was coming to comment on it! 😆 Had to cackle when I saw that.
Haha I re-read that a couple times before I realized they meant “staying”.
(need more coffee obvs)
Girl, get some self respect.
listen, if it’s incapable for you to be in a monogamous relationship, don’t be in one. I don’t see why this is so hard for people. not everyone cheats. I also think that the sex addiction excuse is overused. it seems like that’s what every famous man says when he gets caught cheating.
Sex addition is not a recognized medical condition. Impulse control, compulsive behavior, etc are the underlying causes. Treating the real mental health issues will likely be a lot more successful.
She’s right that anyone can cheat, but wrong that they need any ‘treatment’ other than getting kicked out. Lack of appreciation for what one is fortunate enough to have in their life isn’t a disease or a disorder, it’s a personality defect. Once he knows how far he can push her, he’ll do it until the well runs dry (and as she has said, it won’t.).
Yes, Ref7. Cheating is about entitlement. Thinking that you deserve to get and do whatever you want, no matter who you’re hurting or endangering in the mean time. It sounds like you might read Chump Lady, which I highly recommend for anyone in a relationship. If someone is so “emotionally unfulfilled” in their marriage, they need to talk about it, fix the marriage, agree to an open relationship, or break up. There is no excuse for cheating. If you’re so unhappy, you need to break up.
Chump Lady is the best! I was lucky enough to have lunch with her once in Texas. Her blog helped me so very much, and yes cheating is about entitlement which is exactly what my cheating ex told me why he cheated. I feel badly for her, not the best way to live.
Yeah he sounds like a total selfish person and pathological liar to lie to her face and go to hotels to meet randoms. He needs heavy therapy on WHY he cheats. Mommy issues? Insecurity? I agree he needs to face the underlying issues such as his lack of empathy and why is he such a broken person who hurts other.
He didn’t cheat for 2 years…that is barely anytime in a long term relationship. When he proves he is trustworthy and doesn’t cheat for 10 years – maybe I’d begin to trust him.
How could you be married to someone when you cant even trust that they will be where they say they are, with who they say they are with, when they said they would? That would make me feel insane – the wondering. Does she stay because of the children?
Her instagram is kinda sad. She is clearly obsessed with her husband – he is a big focal point of most of her posts. maybe there is some codependence going on with her on her side.
It’s kind of like saying “anybody can hit you, you could get hit tomorrow!” Like, okay, that’s technically true, but not every person is abusive. And why would you stay with someone that hurts you just because every human being has the capacity to do what your spouse keeps doing?
And is this guy sleeping with anyone or is he finding attractive young women to sleep with? A sex addict doesn’t just sleep with hot people like I’m guessing her husband does.
That does not sound like a healthy relationship. Poor kids.
Yes, anyone has the capacity to cheat given a certain set of circumstances, but that doesn’t mean they would.
And she isn’t married to Anyone, she’s married to a man who doesn’t respect her and knows he doesn’t have to work hard to get back into his marital bed.
She doesn’t have to drag the world into the nonsense that is her unhealthy marriage.
Pathetic.
This guy has really set up the ideal situation for himself. He goes to her when he wants to play happy family man and then runs around when he needs to get his kicks. She takes him back or he gets to go to “treatment” and relax for a month. She clearly has no self respect and placates herself by saying everyone cheats. If everyone cheats where are her side pieces?
Yup. I realize that these things are a personal choice, but this seems like his pattern and one that will never be broken. And why should he break it? He knows she’ll always take him back.
I’d probably cheat too if I was forced to wear those matching swimsuits.
Ha! I thought the same thing…
That is word per word what I came here to say!!!!! *high five*
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I have seen the dissolution of marriages that have surprised me, so I get it.
And I am pretty sure I’d try to work it out with my husband, if possible. And it would be a LOT of work.
But there comes a point where you have to let it go and I think she’s far past that.
She has been married twice before .The first one tried to murder her (he served 6 years for it then killed himself) and her second marriage lasted 28 days from vows to filing for divorce
She herself has said in the past she somehow is attracted to toxic relationships because of her
terrible relationship with her father
Wow that sucks. To go through something like that and survive it physically and emotionally…to only end up in another toxic marriage to a cheater.
I think her perspective is probably so messed up on relationships after the attempted murder that she tolerates the cheating because while it’s bad, she’s experienced so much worse that at least he’s not trying to kill her
That is heartbreaking. She needs therapy. Not couples counseling with her cheating husband like I suspect she’s getting. She deserves so much better than this.
Anyone can cheat, but not everyone would. I could steal money out of my sister’s purse, but I wouldn’t.
Yes. Cheater’s interior monologue: I want this, I deserve this, therefore, I’ll have this.
Entitlement. Lack of character/morals.
Not what is agreed to in marriage vows.
Do sex addicts have sponsors? Just curious.
I am fairly certain they do encourage sponsorship in Sex Addicts Anonymous.
Sure, anyone CAN cheat. Anyone CAN run a red light too, but most people choose not to because they know it’s wrong and would hurt other people.
Based on my very limited knowledge of this couple, I thought he cheated once and she took him back. I had no idea it was such an extensive problem.
She excuses his behavior because it’s an addiction. Or something.
So is this her tacitly admitting to cheating? Because the very fact that she hasn’t cheated is evidence against her sad, sad, sad excuse. Sex addiction DOES exist -and this is sooooo no what it looks like. This dude is successful and in control. He is just dishonest and greedy.
Divorce is a blessing, lady. Stop drining the Kool Aid and get yourself an attorney and a faithful partner.
She’s going to waste so many years of her life on this guy before finally waking up and kicking him to the curb. Doormats like Jana and Jennifer Garner need to get some intensive therapy and a wakeup call.
How painful to endure this type of chronic mistreatment by your spouse. She has to have some major resentment towards him for all the cheating – I doubt it is completely happy at home even though she claims to have forgiven him. I suspect she speaks so much about this to also publicly shame him for his cheating. Maybe she thinks embarrassing him will stop him from doing it in the future?
She is beautiful and successful – why settle for this? I’d rather be alone than married or in a relationship to a chronic cheater. She has two beautiful children and a great career. If she has a great support system of friends on top of this- who needs a man?
Talking about his cheating has become her brand. They were separated when she was on DWTS and it was all she talked about then too.
He’s “as honest as he can” be. Wow. Obviously this guy has a thing for sleeping with other people, but I think he likes the how wrong it feels when he has a wife at home. Like a masochist. And Jana for some reason just hates herself and doesn’t think she deserves love. She probably also likes the idea of “saving” him. What a toxic relationship. Those poor kids.
What I want to know is who are these quack practitioners of sex addiction therapy? Why would you devote your career to counseling people with an “addiction” that the DSM-5 doesn’t even recognize? Unless, of course, for the money. Which they probably get a lot of, considering their wealthy and famous clientele.
It drives me bonkers when people prop up sex addiction as an excuse — and people buy into it. In my experience, the only people who have spoken about sex addiction as a valid illness are those who claim to have it or those who have been a victim of it and are trying to rationalize their partner’s betrayal. Gah.
Ain’t no way in the world…I’ma do “rinse and repeat” on cheating….
But…but…but…..they have shiny, happy social media pictures!!!
I have a friend who did the same thing. She knew her man was meeting someone at a hotel and she showed up to stop him. The guy finished his business and then took a ride home with her. She forgave him so many times. Everyone knew he cheated. He ended up leaving her for one of the girls he cheated with and he married that girl.
Never go the extra mile for a cheater. They will never appreciate your forgiveness. They will move on very quickly and leave you broken. Also, some people aren’t sex addicts. They’re just hoes. Labeling everything an addiction kind of takes away your responsibility.
Exactly! There are sex addicts out there who engage in it with shame, lack of control, etc. its like someone with OCD they dont enjoy it, its a burden to them. I agree this feels like this guy is deflecting responsibility
So he “re-proposed”? Oh, what a magical moment! Apparently it wipes clean the knowledge that he parked his penis in another woman’s vagina. Up next – the desperate “Vow Renewal”.
Heaven’s to Betsy. I can’t imagine staying in a relationship where you’re basically just waiting for the other shoe to drop/the philandering partner to cheat. I was actually reading a very interesting article the other day from a resource for individuals partnered with someone suffering from “sex addiction.” I have no idea how I stumbled upon the article but the thesis was that sex addiction actually isn’t a real thing, and that the modern psychology aimed at treating sex addiction is hogwash that unfairly places the onus on the committed, non-cheating partner–i.e., what are you not providing in the relationship that is creating an environment where your partner wants to cheat? Etc. etc.
Christ, what an asshole.
I always wonder with women like her, who post pics and publicly proclaim their undying love devotion blah blah blah for their so even though the whole world knows he’s cheated like crazy on her. Don’t they realize how foolish and In denial they look to everyone? Like girl you don’t have to prove anything to us, we done know he’s trash!!! Stop lying to yourself because that’s the only person you’re fooling. The fear of being alone is scarier than admitting she married and had 2 children with a pathetic man child who only truly loves himself I guess!
Girl… no.
I get it. Look at him. I’d probably sleep with him again too after all this mess, but you don’t need to be together with him to do that. Heck, he’d probably like her more if she weren’t his wife since that’s clearly his type.
She had to show up at a hotel to stop him from cheating on her a third/fourth time.
He’s embracing his role as the community d*ck and should be dropped like a hot potato.
It sounds to me like she set a trap and he walked right into it thinking he was meeting someone to hookup with. I can’t imagine going back again after that. It’s hard to break up a family but at some point you have to cut and run. He didn’t have a lapse in judgement; he’s just broken.
She’s an idiot.
She’s like LeAnn Rimes, except LeAnn:
Is uglier;
Can’t dance;
Is also a cheater;
Won’t force Eddie into therapy or rehab.
I would give the Esther Perel podcast another try, she is really amazing and insightful. Her book, The State of Affairs, gave me a whole new perspective on what it means to treat infidelity (I’m a Marriage and Family Therapist). Cheating can be viewed as a bad solution to an unaddressed problem. We’re not excusing it, people are absolutely responsible for their actions – in fact, I’ve found this helps people take MORE responsibility for their actions. Finding out why they saw an affair as a possibly solution helps eliminate the notion that the affair was justified (basically you could have dealt with it in another way).
And of course other things can be true, like selfishness, entitlement, easy access, addiction, know you’ll be forgiven, etc. This dude is the exact kind of person who should consider polyamory – either it’s a better fit for your lifestyle (takes cheating off the table) or you enjoy the thrill of cheating (and you need do a lot of work around that).
She has a post celebrating his “one year anniversary.” Is that just one year of not cheating? What a sad thing to celebrate.