Mother, Jonni Hartman, was a Hollywood publicity agent. She says Lisa insisted "she was going to be a star from the time she was 4 or 5 years old". Father is country-singer Howard Hartman.
Attended Houston`s High School for the Performing Arts, did lots of local theater work. At age 16, she was the lead singer of a Houston rock band, called "Lisa Hartman and Four Grand" that played at local Holiday Inns.