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COST: Tickets are $67 and $51.50 (additional fees may apply) available at the Civic Center box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com and by phone at 434-7444.
She's an award-winning singer/songwriter, best-selling author, artist, speaker and sometimes actor. She's shared the stage with everyone from the Dixie Chicks to Harry Belafonte.
"When I'm in the States, I know I'm going to hear, 'Jann who?' " joked the easy-going Canadian. "It's amazing how the border keeps out information."
But her relative anonymity in the States might be short-lived; Arden is currently on tour as the opening act for fellow Canadian and red-hot crooner Michael Bublé. The sell-out tour will make a stop at the Pensacola Civic Center on Saturday.
"Opening up for Michael has been amazing. He's so good at what he does," said the singer. "He's already dragged me all around Europe and Australia with him, and I loved it. I get to kick back and enjoy the tour, while he does all the work."
Arden is probably best known in the United States for her 1995 hit single, "Insensitive," a good example of her emotive singing and personal lyrics, but she's quick to point out that her music career never stopped. She continues to tour as a popular headliner, and her eighth album, 2005's "Jann Arden," went gold in its first week, and produced another hit, "Where No One Knows Me," on Canadian radio.
"I'm more apt to censor myself now when I write. I'm a lot harder on myself than I used to be," said the 40-something singer, adding, "I still think of my music as for 'private consumption.' It's for listening through headphones as you're jogging, or making out, or whatever. It's personal."
Arden, who came to the music industry relatively late in life (she signed her first major record deal at age 30) has managed to sidestep the issues that seem to plague so many young, aspiring artists.
"The industry didn't know what to do with me, or where to put me, but I've never had to deal with the criticism that younger artists get. I've kept my sense of humor and I do whatever makes me comfortable," she said. "I'm not image driven. It's always been about the song, and not some crazy, overt sexuality. I want to warn some of these young performers to be careful what you create, because you're stuck with that image."
"Never get into your deathbed. Don't get into it," she said. "You've got to get out and live life. I'm not setting this thing into the grave looking good. I want to look like an apple that's been in a ditch for 15 months. I want to look like I've really lived."
But music alone isn't enough to keep her occupied. Arden is actively involved in several charities (including a trip to Africa with World Vision), dabbles in acting and art, shares her unique wisdom and engaging humor through speaking engagements, and, to the delight of her fans (or fanns), writes candid journal entries on her well-trafficked Web site, www.jannarden.com .
The overwhelming fan response encouraged Arden to compile some of the entries in a popular 2004 book, "I'll Tell You One Damn Thing, And That's All I Know!"
"I kept getting e-mail from people saying, 'I'm going freaking blind trying to read your entries on the computer!' " said the performer, who is now working on a novel. "I was surprised the fans were so interested, because, as my mom says, the posts aren't about anything."
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