NewsChannel 5 · Nashville, Tennessee
32 Years on the Nashville Desk. Driven by Determination.
♈ Aries · Born April 1st — a trailblazer from day one.
The Journey
Drag or scroll to explore the milestones that define a broadcast legend.
1992
Jennifer begins her career at NewsChannel 5 in Nashville, Tennessee — the start of a 32-year legacy.
1995
Early investigative reports establish her reputation for holding institutions accountable.
1999
Her investigation exposes major fraud at Bill Heard Chevrolet, forcing the Nashville dealership to shut down.
2003
She catches local Feed the Children managers stealing from the charity — a full front-office house cleaning follows.
2007
Undercover reports force lawmakers to ban dangerous novelty lighters and tighten disabled parking placard rules.
2010
Her work earns Regional Emmy Awards, recognizing years of outstanding broadcast journalism.
2014
Recognized by the National Press Club for excellence in investigative reporting.
2017
The gold standard — a National Edward R. Murrow Award for outstanding investigative journalism.
2020
Gallatin nursing home cluster investigation exposes early COVID failures in Tennessee.
2024
Three decades on the Nashville desk — and still driven by determination every single broadcast.
01 · The Living Gallery
Two views of the life she leads on the other side of the glass — the stories, and the moments between them.
02 · On Air & Online
Her best on-air and online clips — from signature investigations to the moments that made weekend mornings feel like home.
The Highlights Reel
The mashup player chains her most-watched segments into one continuous reel. Tap any clip to start.
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Nashville · Tennessee · Home
For 32 years, Jennifer has reported Nashville’s story — and Nashville has become her story too.
From the Tennessee State Fair to Friday Night Football, from tornado coverage at dawn to community celebrations at dusk — she’s been the constant voice in a city that never stops changing. Nashville has grown from a mid-size Southern city into a world-stage destination, and Jennifer Kraus has been there for every chapter.
32
Years in Nashville
2M+
Viewers reached
10K+
Stories told
03 · The Home Squad
Four kids, three dogs, and enough birthday cake to feed a newsroom — life at home runs on love and a legendary family menu.
Mega Mom, on duty.
Jennifer’s proudest title doesn’t come from an anchor desk — it’s “Mega Mom.” She’s built her life around 4 kids — Shelby, Mallory, Zach, and Briley — and she wears the badge with absolute pride.
The Birthday Rule
In the Kraus family, no birthday is official until the table holds her father’s legendary, eccentric menu — buttermilk fried chicken, shrimp & rice Ortega, and sushi. All three. No exceptions.
Three dogs. One household. Zero doubts about who’s in charge.
Then there are the 3 beloved dogs who run the Kraus household — led by Wilson, the fearless chief of the pack. Their authority is absolute; their treats are non-negotiable.
“Chef Boyar-Jen”
The weekend morning news team gave her the nickname — because she bakes birthday cakes for everyone at the station.
04 · Off Duty
When the newscast ends, the energy doesn’t — it just changes venue.
Logging miles and staying deeply active — the kind of motion that keeps a full life in rhythm.
Staying deeply active is the point — movement is her default setting, on air or off.
Flying out to new destinations whenever the calendar allows — the next story is wherever the suitcase lands.
Complex culinary recipes, built for large family gatherings — the birthday rule was just the appetizer.
05 · The Investigative Takedown Matrix
Three investigations, three outcomes — decades of accountability journalism that didn’t just break news, it broke things loose.
Case File 01
Her investigation exposed Bill Heard Chevrolet's major fraud — and forced the dealership to shut down its Nashville location.
Fraud exposed · Nashville location shut down
Case File 02
Undercover reports that forced lawmakers to ban dangerous novelty lighters and toughen the rules around disabled parking placards.
New laws on the books
Case File 03
She caught local Feed the Children managers stealing from the charity — and a full front-office house cleaning followed.
Front office cleaned out