Jewel

Jewel, a multi-talented artist, has cemented her status in the music industry with a Grammy nomination and over 30 million album sales worldwide as of 2024. Her debut album, "Pieces of You," released in 1995, went 12 times platinum and stayed on the Billboard 200 for two years, peaking at number four. Jewel's career took off following her discovery by Inga Vainshtein in 1993, which led to a deal with Atlantic Records. She gained early recognition by performing at venues like the Inner Change Cafe and Java Joe's in San Diego and later opened for Peter Murphy on his 1995 North American tour. Jewel's vocal versatility, showcased through her music, has allowed her to shift from folk rock to a more general pop sound, incorporating dance, urban, and folk music.

Jewel's achievements extend beyond music into other forms of artistic expression. She appeared in Ang Lee's film "Ride with the Devil" in 1999 and made her acting debut in the television film "Ring of Fire" in 2013, where she played June Carter Cash. Moreover, Jewel has also proven her prowess as a writer, releasing a poetry collection in 1998 and an autobiography titled "Chasing Down the Dawn" in 2000. Her book of poetry titled "A Night Without Armor" sold over 1 million copies and became a New York Times best-seller. Additionally, Jewel has used her platform to contribute to social causes. In 2006, she delivered over 12 million petition signatures to Capitol Hill as part of Lifetime's "Stop Breast Cancer for Life" campaign.

As a result of having been homeless as a teenager, Jewel is passionate about helping those experiencing homelessness. She served as the honorary chairperson of the 2006 Help the Homeless Walk in Washington, D.C. In May 2013, Jewel was an ambassador for the ReThink: Why Housing Matters initiative and was included in its public service announcement (PSA), which asked Americans to rethink their views on public housing and consider how it benefits people in their communities.

Jewel showcased her musical talent by winning the sixth season of "The Masked Singer" as the Queen of Hearts in 2021. She continued her active musical career by releasing the album "Freewheelin' Woman" in 2022 through her own label, Words Matter Media. Jewel's recent performances include singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the NBA All-Star Game and the Indy 500 in 2023. In 2024, Jewel created a museum-wide show at the Crystal Bridges Museum in Bentonville, Arkansas, called "The Portal: An Art Experience by Jewel." She also continues contributing to her nonprofit organization, Higher Ground for Humanity, focusing on education, sustainable improvements, and building alliances with like-minded organizations.