Jonathan Jackson’s Lucky may have left Port Charles behind on General Hospital, but his love of performing is still going strong. The actor reunited with his former Nashville co-star, Clare Bowen, to do a series of live shows on the East Coast. The pair stopped into the Stress Factory in New Brunswick, NJ and wowed the crowd with songs and storytelling.
Hitting The Road
Lucky recently departed with his son Aiden (Colin Cassidy) after returning to GH in August of 2024. The commute between Los Angeles, where the show tapes, and Jackson’s home in Tennessee was the reason given for his departure. Fans were excited to see the actor return to the canvas, with some expressing disappointment when his return did not last as long as they had hoped.
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The actor was recently nominated for a Daytime Emmy in the Outstanding Supporting Actor category. Jackson has been nominated in 2010, 2011, and 2012 in the same category, taking home the prize in 2011 and 2012. He also won the Outstanding Younger Actor Emmy in 1995, 1998, and 1999, while also scoring nominations in 1996 and 2000.
Nashville Nights
When Nashville first premiered, Jackson’s Avery and Bowen’s Scarlett were introduced as a couple. They’re dating when the show begins, but their relationship becomes strained as Avery’s ambition starts to take over. Avery’s pursuit of fame causes friction, leading Scarlett to eventually break things off with him. After their breakup, Scarlett gets involved with Gunnar (Sam Palladio), while Avery goes through several ups and downs of his own—including eventually marrying Juliette Barnes (Guiding Light/One Live To Live alum Hayden Panettiere).
Jackson wrote and performed several original songs for the series, including: “This Is What I Need To Say” – a solo performance featured in Season 3, Volume 2; “The Morning of the Rain” – a song he penned and performed in Season 1, Episode 7, which was also featured in Episode 19. “I Ain’t Leavin’ Without Your Love” – a duet with Palladio and Chaley Rose (Zoey) in Season 2, Episode 15 and “Hold You In My Arms” – a collaboration with Panettiere in Season 3, Volume 2. He also toured with the cast, along with his co-stars, and participated in live performances of these songs during the show’s run. In 2024, Jackson reunited with fellow cast members Bowen, Charles Esten (Deacon), and Palladio for live performances at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta and the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville
Family Man
Jackson is married to GH alum Lisa Vulatggio. They wed on June 21, 2002 and have three children; Caleb, 22, Adora, 19, and Titus, 14. He began learning guitar at 8 years old and started writing songs around the same time he began acting, at age 9. He formed a band with his family called Scarlet Road, which included his brother Richard Lee, their dad, Ricky Lee, and their uncle, Gary. Around 2001, they briefly changed the name to Scarlet River, and by 2002, it became Jono and the Rock, before settling on Enation in 2003.
Jackson spoke about his special connection to Nashville in a 2024 interview with Maurice Benard (Sonny) on the podcast State of Mind. He recalled how his father, a musician, had a dream of recording in Nashville, which he later fulfilled. Jackson dedicated his first song at the Grand Ole Opry to his father, honoring his legacy and the family’s musical roots.
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