- Born Jewel Kilcher in 1974 in Payson UT, and raised in Homer Alaska, in a house without indoor plumbing.
- She and her father sang in taverns, which is where she learned to yodel. At 15, a dance instructor referred her to an arts academy in Michigan. She relocated and learned to play the guitar, and started writing songs and playing in coffeehouses.
- She began to travel, living in her car, doing street performances and small gigs. In San Diego, she was discovered by a film executive who got her a recording contract at Atlantic Records.
- Her debut album, Pieces of You, was released when she was 21. She recorded it at Neil Young’s ranch, with Young’s backing band, the Stray Gators. The album sold over 12 million copies in the U.S., peaking at #4 on the Billboard 100 chart, and it stayed on the chart for 2 years. The album’s singles were You Were Meant For Me, Who Will Save Your Soul, and Foolish Games. The last two reached #2 on the Hot 200 chart. Talk about a rags to riches story!
- The follow-up album, Spirit, also sold well – U.S. sales were over 4 million copies. Her biggest selling single on the Spirit album was Hands.
- She has released 12 studio albums (including 2 Christmas albums and 2 children’s albums) and 28 singles. She also has contributed to 11 soundtrack albums. She writes or co-writes all of her music.
- She has received 4 Grammy award nominations, but she has not won a Grammy yet.
- Jewel has evolved over time. First a folk singer, then a pop singer, and more lately a country singer – she is a remarkable success story. Here’s the video for Foolish Games.