J.R. Martinez

Author

J.R. Martinez, a resilient Army veteran and burn survivor, defied expectations, winning Dancing with the Stars, becoming a bestselling author, and inspiring audiences globally. Born in Louisiana, he overcame early hardships, enlisting in 2002 and surviving a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2003. With 34 surgeries during recovery, J.R. found his calling as a motivational speaker, promoting the ethos of "Adapt & Overcome℠" and supporting burn survivor organizations.

Entering the entertainment scene in 2008, he starred in All My Children and triumphed on Dancing with the Stars in 2011. A New York Times Bestselling author with Full of Heart in 2012, J.R. now resides in Austin, Texas, with his family, embracing a dynamic life of travel, speaking engagements, fitness, and cherished moments.