Jackie was born to Fraser and Margaret (MacEachern) Dunn of Lower South River. She is the youngest of three and the only girl.  Her mother, a well known stepdancer in Cape Breton, started to teach Jackie when she was only 4 years old. At 5, Jackie began to study classical piano and by the time she was 8 years old, had begun the fiddle under the instruction of Stan Chapman.

Combining all three talents, Jackie went on to perform solo and as accompaniment to many fiddlers at countless events.  Her performance agenda has taken her as far away as Vancouver, Washington, and Scotland.

While attending university, Jackie found time to perform in the Maritimes, across North America and in Scotland. She graduated in 1991 with a B.A. in music and again in 1993 with a B. Ed; both from St. Francis Xavier University. She is presently employed as a music teacher at a Primary-Grade 8 School in Port Hood (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia), which serves children from Troy to Mabou, Inverness County.  She currently lives in Havre Boucher, Antigonish County.

It's no wonder Jackie has so much to offer. One can only imagine the great wealth of music she picked up in a home and family filled with music. There are many musical connections in Jackie's family tree. The MacEachern Family, from which Jackie descends, is related to such well known musicians as Dan Hughie MacEachern, also a noted composer, Howie MacDonald and Theresa and Donald MacLellan. There are also several musicians to whom Jackie is related through the Dunn Family tree; David MacIsaac and Archie Neil, Angus, Cameron, and Maybelle Chisholm.

Her recording, Dunn to a "T", featuring original and traditional compositions, was released independently in 1995 and received rave reviews from all over the world.  It features Jackie on fiddle, piano, and stepdancing.  She was also piano accompanist on Brenda Stubbert's CD, In Jig Time, Glenn Graham's CD, Let 'er Rip, Buddy MacMaster's CD, The Judique Flyer, and on the compilation CD Atlantic Fiddles.  Jackie also appears with her stepdancing feet on Wendy MacIsaac's release, That's What You Get.

The best Cape Breton musicians are always in demand. Jackie has been teaching fiddle, piano, and dancing since 1988 at numerous workshops and festivals, across Canada, the United States and Overseas.  Some of these include St. Ann's Gaelic College, The Ceilidh Trail School of Music, the Isle of Skye, and Uist (with Buddy MacMaster in July 2000).  Jackie was also a featured performer at the 1997, 1998 and 1999 Celtic Colours International Festival in Cape Breton.