Jazz Jennings is a television personality and advocate for transgender causes who has been in the public eye since she was very young. Jennings, who was introduced to viewers everywhere in 2015 when she began starring in her own reality TV series, I Am Jazz, has gone through many trials and tribulations all in the public eye. Things haven’t always been easy for the young pop culture icon, but through it all, she’s been able to count on the support of her family, including her grandparents, both of whom have been featured presences on the reality show.
Jazz Jennings was born in South Florida in 2000, to parents Greg and Jeanette Jennings. The family has been open about the fact that the last name “Jennings” is a pseudonym that they assumed in order to protect the privacy of their children. Jazz Jennings was diagnosed with gender dysmorphia when she was five years old, becoming one of the youngest people to go public as a transgender person. In 2015, I Am Jazz debuted on television, introducing fans to not only the young activist, but to her large, loving family as well.
Jazz Jennings has three siblings in total, an older sister named Ari Jennings and two brothers, Sander and Griffen Jennings. She also has a set of grandparents who have become fan-favorites on the reality show, Jack and Jacky Jennings. While everyone in Jazz Jennings’ family has different personalities and interests, they have all been able to rally around the reality star, helping her to navigate life in the spotlight as a transgender person.
Jack and Jacky Jennings have been featured on I Am Jazz on more than one occasion, and often in unexpected ways. Memorably, in early 2020, Jack Jennings appeared in a drag show hosted by Jazz Jennings, which she organized to help pay for her friend’s gender confirmation surgery. “Let me tell you, we all have a little bit of the opposite sex in us,” Jack Jennings admitted on I Am Jazz, in advance of his drag performance. “I’m excited to see what comes out.”
In a clip from the show, Jack Jennings takes the stage in long pigtails and a red dress, seemingly having a great time. His wife Jacky Jennings admitted, “The drag show is one of the highlights of our being together for so long,” while Griffen Jennings joked that “I can’t say that Grandpa is the prettiest drag queen, I won’t give him that. But he definitely is the best sport out of all of us.”
Jazz Jennings and her grandfather have a good relationship, but they haven’t always agreed on every issue related to the transgender community. Notably, in a 2017 episode of I Am Jazz, Jazz and Jack Jennings sat down for a discussion with members of the trans community.
According to Distractify, an audience member opened up about how he was born female, but he doesn’t feel like a female, saying, “I’m afraid of the hormone situation.” Jack Jennings responded, noting “I can’t imagine how one could go through a transition without the appropriated hormones.”
Jazz Jennings took issue with her grandfather’s remark, telling the audience member “Yeah, I disagree with that. If it’s not important to you, don’t do it. Don’t listen to my grandpa.” Jazz and Jack Jennings continued to go back and forth on the topic, with Jazz Jennings later telling the cameras
“I think my grandpa really does try to understand situations like this, but he ends up shooting himself in the foot. And I don’t think I want to argue with him anymore. It’s not worth it….if he’s right, then he’s right. Because otherwise … He’s right.”
Ultimately, the two have a close relationship, with Jack Jennings willing to go out of his way to support Jazz Jennings in any way that she needs it – even if he doesn’t always know the right thing to say.
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