The prospect of mentoring contestants drew Jewel to 'Nashville Star.'
When Jewel first made a name for herself as a singer-songwriter in the mid-1990s, she broke through on the pop music charts.
But I think if I came out now (with the same material), I would probably be considered a country artist, she muses.
I don't think 'You Were Meant for Me' would have a chance at pop radio. In fact, I know it wouldn't.
So it shouldn't really surprise anyone that Jewel is serving as co-host (alongside Cowboy Troy) in the fifth-season edition of Nashville Star, which premieres at 9 p.
m. Thursday on USA.
It's interesting to be at this job for 12 years now and to see how much the business has changed and how much musical genres have been reclassified, the Grammy-nominated performer says.
My first single ('Who Will Save Your Soul') was 'alternative,' between Nirvana and Soundgarden. 'You Were Meant for Me' was a pop hit. Now, when you think of a pop artist, you think of people much more like Paris Hilton.
Which is why Jewel who grew up in rural Alaska and now lives on a ranch in Stephenville with rodeo star Ty Murray is proud to keep company with the Nashville crowd.
One of the things that makes me such a fan of country music is that the genre is about authenticity and staying true to who you are, she says. One of the reasons I started writing songs was because of Loretta Lynn.
I felt she really had an ability to tap into the voice of her culture and speak in such a plain, honest, straightforward way about almost taboo subjects. That had a big effect on me. Her writing was so strong and it really moved me.
Jewel's fans feel much the same way about her songwriting. Vacuous pop ditties have never been her style. She fancies herself as a storyteller and telling stories is what country music is all about.
Country is probably the strongest and healthiest of music genres, she adds. Pop music wishes to have the longevity for their artists and the continued great record sales without the downloading impingement. Country music is alive and healthy and I think that's why you're seeing so many pop and rock musicians, like Bon Jovi, head into the country market.
Jewel's involvement in Nashville Star, a country cousin to American Idol, began last year when she expressed interest in being a guest judge.
But once I realized that the judges have only about 15 or 20 seconds to give any input to the contestants, we started talking about me being a host and being able to mentor them, she says. I'll actually be able to have two mentoring sessions where they're going to come down to my ranch in Texas.
I really identify with these kids. I was an 18-year-old struggling to make it in the music scene and, if I was me on that show, I really would want more than 15 seconds (of feedback) to try to get everything straight.
Jewel who released her sixth album, Goodbye Alice in Wonderland, in 2006 believes that Nashville Star has far more to offer than Idol does.
These aren't just people who are great singers, she points out. These 20 contestants, they all play at least one instrument and many play three instruments and they are all writers. They actually have the whole package.
Nashville Star is also filling a void left by many of the record companies, Jewel maintains.
Labels have gotten a little trapped in following 'breakouts,' she says. If an artist breaks out, say, like Gretchen Wilson, then they're going to make a million more Gretchen Wilsons.
Something 'Nashville Star' is helping with is (giving an opportunity) to an artist who's authentic, who's different, who may not follow a trend then America gets to say, 'This is something we like.'
San Antonio Express-News publish date Jan. 10, 2007
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