Jewel: ‘What I’m Most Proud of at 50 Is Who I Am as a Person’

Where do you get your fortitude?

My family is very heroic. My grandfather hiked over the Harding glacial ice field, scouting out land. With my grandmother, they walked 250 miles from Anchorage over the peninsula, through mountains and rivers, to find land in Homer, Alaska, where they bought an old fox farmer’s claim. My grandfather became a state senator and helped write the Alaska Constitution. Pioneers are the original entrepreneurs.

You just hit the Big 5-0. What does that mean to you?

It’s symbolic. I remember writing a long time ago, at 18, that I wanted my life to be my best work of art. I wanted to try to live thoughtfully and intentionally. I fought very, very hard for my humanity and to have internal peace. I wanted to be more giving, more loving, more generous. To me, what I’m most proud of at 50 is who I am as a person. That’s my biggest success.

What are your thoughts on plastic surgery or Botox?

I see people taking a stand, saying, “I’m never going to do surgery.” That’s great, and good for them. But we can’t let that be a way of bullying others who are doing it. We all have to find our way to what makes us feel good. We shouldn’t be shaming women because they have breast implants or a facelift. It isn’t more heroic to not have surgery; it isn’t more heroic to have surgery. Whatever works for you on your path to feeling beautiful is what should be celebrated.

You’ve talked about battling an eating disorder as a teen. How do you stay fit and healthy?

There’ll be times where I’m home for long periods and can eat home-cooked meals and get outside and hike. There’ll be times where I’m on the road for months eating in restaurants and takeout and I’m like, “Oh my God, I haven’t been to a yoga studio to help my low-back issues! I’ve got to get back on the bandwagon!” I’ve learned to be adaptable. Managing stress is my big nonnegotiable.

Is it difficult to manage stress when you’re touring?

Touring is rigorous! You show up to the venue just in time for your whole crew to unload the trucks. You get ready and do interviews. You get on stage. You get off. Your crew breaks it all down, and you try to get to the next city in time to get some rest. It’s not like there’s a ton of free time.

Is it empowering to tour with another female tour de force like Melissa Etheridge?

I think the power of two women touring together is important. Men tour together all the time. There’s still so much stigma that people won’t come see two women on the bill, four women on the bill. You would’ve thought the Lilith Fair would’ve changed a lot of that, but it didn’t. I’m proud that we’re touring together.

"Chill" reflects Jewel's perception on meditation and medication.

Arturo Olmos

What advice would you give your younger self?

That you shouldn’t be an inexhaustible resource for other people to use. I had a type of talent, energy and tenacity that I thought meant I should give, give, give, give, give. And it gave me out. I wish I could have valued myself and said, “You don’t have to work that hard.” People work hard, but what I did was crazy; it was self-punishing. I didn’t know less was enough. I wish I could go back and tell myself that, but the cool thing is I can tell that to myself now.

And do you listen to yourself? Have you changed?

That’s what’s so cool about getting older; I get do-overs, and I get to do things differently. I get to have this tour, and I get to have this art experience, and I get to do it in a new way. My best talent has never been songwriting or creating behavioral tools or even visual art. My best talent is my willingness. I’m willing to say, “I’ll figure out another way.” That willingness ended up, “I’m willing to heal.” Willingness is a very underrated trait.