Country music’s new darling is no stranger to the industry. In fact, Alaska-raised Jewel Kilcher has been entertaining fans for years, and has sold over 27 million albums worldwide. She’s also an acclaimed poet and painter, and has explored fresh musical avenues for more than a decade before gracing the country music charts with her talent. She’s moved from the simplicity of the acoustic-driven folk that made her famous with so many to embrace the influences of rock, pop, blues and jazz before crooning on our favorite local stations. We love that while she spends as much time as she can with her new husband on their Texas ranch (she just got married to rodeo star Ty Murray), she also frequents Nashville often and serves as a judge on Nashville Star.
We chose her as our cover personality and to lead this year’s list not only for her talent, but also for her strength, determination and natural star quality. From homeless and living in San Diego to being discovered while singing for tips in a coffee shop, to topping the charts and selling out performances, Jewel has remained grounded and true to her humble roots, her family, and also to her fans. To us, there’s nothing more beautiful than a genuinely good person making all of her dreams come true.
Jewel
What’s your definition of beauty?
My definition of beauty is working with what God gave you. Find what’s unique and pretty about you and accentuate that, rather than try to homogenize and look like what’s pretty about someone else.
What’s your secret to looking good?
My secret to looking good is trying to be the best that I can be. The industry I’m in can really fuel insecurities—it can cause a person to always be chasing youth and a certain brand of trendy/hip beauty that can border on neurotic desperation. But when you see classically confident beauties like Katharine Hepburn or Sophia Loren, you’re reminded that there are all kinds of beauty. There’s room for exactly who you are.
How about fitness? How do you keep in shape?
When I’m working on an album, like I currently am, I travel about 300 days a year. Trying to stay fit with so much travel can really be a challenge. I try to find things to do wherever I am. I have a floor routine I do in my bus that’s a mixture of exercises I’ve picked up over the years. They focus on the specific parts I want to improve. I try to run three miles every day, which is the most convenient exercise when traveling. In Nashville, I like to do an urban run from the hotel where I stay downtown, across the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge, around the stadium, over the bridge on the other side, then down by the Tennessee Bi-Centennial Memorial, up the stairs of the capitol building, along the War Plaza, and back up to the hotel. I also do Hot Yoga, on Elliston Place, when I can.
What’s something most people might not know about you?
I love outdoor chores! I grew up on a ranch in Alaska, and I always liked doing chores with my dad. My older brother would often cook for the family—I was raised by a single dad—and I’d help my dad with the horses and cattle. To this day, I love helping Ty with the chores on our 2,000-acre ranch, and there are plenty. It’s fun to be outdoors, and it’s a naturally good way to stay in shape, whether we’re tolling out round bales in the winter, breaking colts in the spring, or picking rocks out of hay fields.
Do you have any heroes? Who do you look up to?
I have a lot of heroes. I’ve always admired personal and creative bravery. I admire [Charles] Bukowski for being so frank in his poems. I like Anaïs Nin because she didn’t sugarcoat herself or make herself seem more perfect than she was when she wrote her diaries. I like Pablo Neruda because he believed the power of poems could change politics—he risked exile for what he believed. And Loretta Lynn for talking about the pill! That’s still one of the coolest songs in history to me. I really looked up to Loretta Lynn as a young girl raised in a tiny rural community in Alaska. She was frank, honest, and talked about her life. She didn’t use words to make herself someone she wasn’t. She was just herself, and it was great! Artists like that gave me the courage to be myself, rather than the slick, plastic art and beauty I saw in magazines—they made me feel so ostracized.
What’s your favorite spot in Nashville?
I have a lot of favorite spots in Nashville! I like to eat the black bean salad at Calypso Café, Marché for brunch, and I love The Palm for dinner. For clothes, I like Posh. For groceries or a quick snack I like the amazing selection at Whole Foods in Green Hills. I like The Venetian for a mani-pedi. For an evening stroll I like the Shelby Street Pedestrian Bridge—it has great views and there are always couples taking pictures. It’s so sweet!
How do you give back to the Nashville community?
I was homeless for a year when I was 18, and if it weren’t for the kindness of strangers, I don’t think I’d be here today. I know firsthand what being helped can mean, and I believe strongly in helping others. I started a foundation called Project Clean Water in 1997 to help get clean water to communities all over the world. This year I teamed up with Mary Kay to help renovate a local Women’s Shelter called Morning Star. The country music community is second to none when it comes to rallying around a cause. When Mary Kay’s Kiss Domestic Violence Goodbye Campaign asked me to be their spokesperson this year, I was delighted to help. I’ll help collect country superstars’ kisses to be auctioned off and donated toward this great cause.
Aside from work and family time, what do you do for fun?
For fun, Ty and I go flying in the evenings. We have a powered parachute—basically, it’s a go cart with a parachute attached. It lifts you into the air and you soar just like a bird. It’s amazing! We can fly for up to two hours, and we explore all over the place.
What grooming product could you not live without?
My favorite grooming product right now is a bronzing stick I got at The Body Shop. It has a perfect glow and a kiss of color, and no mess. It travels great, so it’s a winner for me.
What trait do you find least attractive in others?
The quality I find least attractive in people is arrogance. There’s no reason to get a big head about anything. Life is too short.
What trait of your own would you most like to change?
I think my life would be a lot better if I could relax and be more patient. They say it comes with time, and that the reward of it is itself. Lovely.
What aspect of your physical appearance would you change if you could?
People always ask me why I never fixed my teeth. My dad was too poor to get me braces as a kid. We didn’t even have insurance, so I didn’t really have a choice. I guess over the years I just got used to my teeth. My teeth have been made fun of my whole life. It started in school and happens still in the public eye. I feel like I’m lucky for what I do have. My nose is mine. My teeth are mine. I’m 100 percent real, and I feel like I should be grateful for the health and beauty God gave me. I’m not perfect. There’s always going to be someone prettier. But I’m so grateful for what I have. I don’t want to spend all my time chasing what I don’t.
The List
Jewel
Nanci Filipelli
Ashlie Kolb
Kevin Mawae
Kelly Lynn
Eldridge Askins
Dan McDow
Brent Young
Lance Smith
Michelle Rose Ingram
Sheg Aranmolate
Kimberly Pont Lezica
Gary Kinder
Amber Christian McDonald, a.k.a. “Ambie Mac”
Carmen N. Primrose
Beau Davidson
Justin Michael Sandy
Nan Kelley
Carolyn Calhoun
Jordin Tootoo
Chuck Wicks
Amy Cotta
Holly Robertson
John Dwyer
Karen Elson