Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it
exclusively produces is in the public domain.
July 3, 2008

Jewel Releases Country Album That Makes Her Love of Music Style 'Perfectly Clear' 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1CF9197:A6F02AD83191E160020017B513B8B1E7F47489ACC27D21EE&
 
Singer says her turn of direction from pop to country music was a
natural progression in her 13-year career 
Now 13 years into her career, 34-year-old pop singer Jewel is
attracting a new audience of fans, this time in Country music. VOA's
Mary Morningstar has this report on Jewel's latest album, Perfectly
Clear.JewelJewel says she's been writing Country songs all her life, yet
Perfectly Clear is her first album aimed at a Country audience.In
1995, Jewel was signed to Atlantic Records, which dropped her in 2007
after disappointing sales of her album Goodbye Alice In Wonderland.
Her first album, Pieces Of You, sold 12 million copies to become one
of the biggest-selling debut releases of all time. During her 13 years
with Atlantic Records, Jewel sold a total of 27 million albums
worldwide. They produced such pop hits as ""Who Will Save Your Soul",
"You Were Meant For Me," and "Hands." Jewel feels her turn of
direction toward Country music was a natural progression in her
career. She lists Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson and Loretta Lynn
among her musical influences. And, five of her six studio albums were
recorded in Nashville. Scott Borchetta, who heads one of the city's
top independent labels, Big Machine Records, offered Jewel a
multi-album deal on his second label, Valory Records.
"She's one of the best singer-songwriters in any genre," Steve
says.Jewel
wrote or co-wrote all but one track on Perfectly Clear. Her recent
Top 20 Country hit, "Stronger Woman," deals with female empowerment.
"I wrote it for a lot of women and for myself. If something's wrong
with my life, I need to fix it. You don't wait around. Nobody owes
you anything. It's up to you," she explains.Perfectly Clear entered
Billboard's Country albums chart at Number One and the Billboard 200 at
Number 8. Jewel
plans to keep very busy in the coming months. She's performing on Brad
Paisley's U.S. summer tour, and is a judge on Country music's
television talent competition, "Nashville Star." Helping her choose
this year's "Nashville Star" winner are songwriter Jeffrey Steele and
John Rich of the popular duo Big and Rich, who co-produced Perfectly
Clear.