Jill Wagner Raises Daughters on a Tennessee Farm

Actress Jill Wagner is raising her two daughters on a Tennessee farm in a town of approximately 800 people, where horse-drawn buggies remain a familiar sight. In an interview with Fox News Digital, Wagner explained how the rural setting reflects her Southern roots and the family values she and her husband want to pass on to their children. Her latest holiday film, A Very Arctic Christmas, premiered October 29, 2026.

Wagner, known for the action series Lioness, said she appreciates the close-knit atmosphere of her Tennessee community. Encounters with local residents, including Mennonites traveling by horse and buggy, have become part of her everyday life.

"First of all, I love Tennessee … I'm from the South. I'm from North Carolina. I love the people here but especially love the small-town mentality," Wagner told Fox News Digital.

She described an ordinary visit to the post office that illustrated the distinctive character of the town and its traditional way of life.

"I was at the post office this morning and one of the Mennonites was in front of me … I got to look at their horse and buggy," Wagner said.

Having left home at 17 to pursue an entertainment career, Wagner understands why her daughters might eventually seek opportunities in larger cities. However, she hopes their upbringing will leave them with a lasting appreciation for a slower pace of life.

"In some ways, going back to a simpler, slower pace … I think as we get older, or at least I know I can speak for myself, as I get older, I really value that," she said.

Wagner acknowledged that her daughters may eventually follow their own paths away from their hometown. She hopes their childhood experiences will remain meaningful regardless of where they settle as adults.

"And I'm sure they'll do the same, but I hope what it does is bring them back to the simple-ness of life and what it can be … That's a gift that my husband and I gave them, and they probably don't even know it yet," Wagner said.

Alongside her family responsibilities, Wagner continues to work in television and film. In A Very Arctic Christmas, she plays Jane, a wildlife conservationist who helps a father and daughter navigate an unexpected Arctic adventure after their holiday cruise goes off course.

The film reunites Wagner with Cameron Mathison. She said their on-set interactions frequently turn into laughter, sometimes prompting director Robin Dunne to encourage the actors to refocus.

"There's never any dull moment when you have Cameron Mathison and I on set together. In fact, it's hard for us to get through a scene without laughing, I'm sure. Robin Dunne, the director, is always rolling his eyes, like, ‘Oh, guys, guys, guys, guys, bring it in,'" Wagner said.

The actress has also incorporated her daughters into her holiday film experiences. When they were younger, she included them as extras in one of her movies, allowing them to participate in a scene involving Santa Claus.

Wagner hopes those shared experiences will become a family tradition that her daughters continue with their own families.

"And I just hope that one day when I'm long and gone, that is a tradition with each other's families is that they get on Christmas, and they get to watch that movie and just kind of laugh at the fact that we're all in a movie together at Christmas," she said.

On the farm, Wagner said her daughters enjoy spending time outdoors but have yet to embrace all the responsibilities associated with rural living. The family hopes to expand its animals when her professional schedule allows more time at home.

"So, I don't know about farm girl. I know that … they love outdoors. They don't necessarily like doing farm work. So, we're trying to still work on that," Wagner said.

Despite their reluctance to do farm work, the girls are comfortable playing outside for extended periods, an aspect of childhood Wagner particularly appreciates.

"They do love running around barefooted in the dirt, and they can play outside all day long, which I love for them," she said.

The family is considering adding chickens and goats to the property. Wagner also raised the possibility of getting a horse or pony for her daughters in the future.

"Maybe one day we'll get a horse or a pony for them," Wagner said.

Community involvement is another important part of the family's life. At Scott Mansion Farms, the family hosts charitable events benefiting the Special Operations Warrior Foundation and Dolly Parton's Children's Hospital. Wagner said neighbors regularly offer practical help and support.

"But the fact that people just show up at the gate and say, ‘What can we do to help?' I think it just reminds me of how amazing humanity is … and how very special it is to have good neighbors," she said.

Wagner also wants her daughters to appreciate local festivals and community traditions, which she considers an integral part of her own upbringing.

"It's woven into my fabric. So, I'm going to pass that on to my girls. Hopefully they'll have the love for that like I do," Wagner said.

A Very Arctic Christmas premiered October 29, 2026, on Great American Pure Flix. The film is scheduled to air on Great American Family and GFAM+ on October 31 at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.