Jodi was born in the state of New Jersey, and her family has a rich musical heritage. Her grandfather, a renowned bandleader in the 1940s, had a band in New York City, and her mother, who taught Jodi to sing, was a performer with her grandfather's band.
Jodi's early life was marked by her passion for performing, which was evident when she entered the Miss Philadelphia Pageant at the age of 17. Although she was the runner-up, she realized that she enjoyed performing more than competing, and so she returned the following year as a featured performer.
Jodi's academic pursuits led her to major in theater with a concentration in classics at Penn State University. During her senior year, she won a part in an off-Broadway show called My Name is Pablo Picasso, which ran for eight weeks. She also appeared in the Surflight Theatre production of A Chorus Line, where she danced and sang "At the Ballet," and was part of the national tour of Lend Me A Tenor, in which she played the role of Maggie.
After graduating, Jodi produced and starred in Tennessee Williams' one-act play, 27 Wagons Full of Cotton, at the Intar Theatre on 42nd Street. She then appeared in Bodyshop at New York's Westbeth Theatre, receiving outstanding critical notice for her portrayal of an unwed mother who becomes an exotic dancer. Additionally, she performed the role of Lily St. Regis in the 20th anniversary production of Annie at the Goodspeed Opera House.
Jodi made her Broadway debut in Jekyll & Hyde, where she played a leading role. This was followed by the featured role of Pam ("the other woman") as part of the original cast of the Broadway musical Urban Cowboy, directed by Lonny Price.
In addition to her stage work, Jodi has also released a solo CD entitled Girl Talk, which features contemporary renditions of standards associated with strong women.
