Janette R. Smith

Actor, Writer, and Producer Janette Renee Smith (Janette R. Smith) was born in St. Paul Minnesota, and lived all over the world as part of a military family. In fact, Janette attended Montessori school and the first grade in Tehran, Iran. She began her career in acting at the age of 11 and wrote her first screenplay that year as well. The theater was her carport, the neighborhood kids - the actors, whom she got to show up to every day after school for rehearsals and a performance.

While immersed in local and regional theater during college, she was 'discovered' by a local New director and began her journey into journalism in Huntsville, Alabama. She majored in Mass Media / Journalism at Alabama A&M University / Univ. of Alabama - Hsv., and worked her way up from secretary and camera operator in 1987 to award-winning Main Anchor in 8 years. Celebrated as Best Anchor and Producer by the Press Club while at WAFF-48NBC. Smith was promoted to the main anchorwoman for the 5 pm and 10 pm newscasts- a move that made Smith the second African-American woman to ever anchor a prime-time newscast in the Tennessee Valley news market. Smith's career moved swiftly up the market list to Cincinnati (WCPO 1995) -where she was awarded "The Distinguished Broadcaster Award" by The National Broadcasting Society. Smith's next move was to Dallas (WFAA 1998 ) where she co-anchored the SE Regional Emmy-winning "Good Morning Texas" and then ended her News journey in Atlanta (WAGA 2001) before transitioning to hosting shows on HGTV and The DIY Network (2011 -2007).

Janette has 2 Telly Awards for her work with The DIY Network, several Emmy nominations, plus multiple Telly and Aurora awards for her writing / producing on TV documentaries, including "The Dream Betrayed: The Lowndes County Story" and "The Joseph Project." Janette has interviewed and worked with some of the top thought-leaders and Influencers of our time- including Zig Ziglar, Oprah, Dr. Phil, Iyanla, and Anthony Robbins. Janette's performance training is girded by her start in local and regional theater in college. She studies with renowned actor, Glenn Morshower and Thomas Ardavany. Janette Smith is credited as Janette R. Smith is known for her role as Yolanda Jackson" in the Feature Film - Christmas...Who Needs It"-a winner in the 2008 Hollywood Black Film Festival. Janette continues writing, producing, and directing dramatic Web Series.