Michael and Judy Johnson, originally from New Mexico, raised Jaki and her brother Matt in Houston, Texas as well as in Stavanger, Norway for part of their childhood. Former leaders in their respective fields, they are now retired and live on a ranch just north of Santa Fe. Jaki remembers fondly her family's tradition of watching Christmas Vacation every "julaften," making green chile enchiladas with her mom, and her dad calling her "Baby J" no matter how many high school friends were around.