Jewel has faced a lifetime of psychological and physical abuse as well as homelessness and depression. But at nearly 50, she’s finally found peace and love within herself.
“I’m more inspired now than I’ve ever been in my life. The most since I was like 19 or 20 years old,” she told PEOPLE. “I’m just happy.”
Jewel has been open about her childhood and adult struggles throughout her career. The Grammy-nominated songstress grew up in “a very traditional Morman family” that fell apart after her mother left her father.
Jewel’s father suffered from Vietnam War-related PTSD, and when his wife left, he fell into alcoholism, which caused him to be aggressive and physically abusive. So Jewel’s only option was to leave, which sparked decades of struggles.
At only 15, the singer was supporting herself. Initially, she lived in a cabin and shoplifted to survive. When she was able to find work, she did. But In her vulnerable state, predatory men targeted her, especially in the workforce. To protect herself, she began jumping from job to job, and everything hit rock bottom after a manager fired her for refusing his romantic advances. She was left completely broke, and her car, which she had been living in, was stolen. So, she had to live on the streets.
Jewel Is Focused On Well-Rounded Mental Health
Fortunately, Jewel never gave up on a better life, and she pursued her recording dreams. Her road to success was paved with similar trauma, but in 1995, she dropped her first album, Pieces of You, which landed on the Billboard Top 200 and produced several chart-topping singles.
Despite finding success and security, Jewel was left with unprocessed emotional trauma, which led to a failed marriage, and depression. The singer admitted that finding peace was a long-uphill battle dotted with hard-hitting blows such as finding her bearings as a single mom and learning her own mother embezzled $100 million from her.
Jewel never stopped focusing on her mental health, even when she hit her lowest moments. And she’s thankful for her resilience today because she’s finally experiencing happiness.
“For me, mental health and emotional well-being is a side effect of our three spheres working in harmony,” she continued. “And suffering is a side effect if they aren’t.”
The Foolish Games artist refused to comment on her romance with Kevin Costner, and she was adamant that relationships would never be her true source of joy. She’s learned to find that within herself.
“I found love, and I’m not talking about Kevin’s,” she noted. “I’m so happy, irrelevant of a man. It has nothing to do with being in a relationship or not being in one. I’m good.”
This story’s featured image is by Duane Prokop/Getty Images for The Wellness Experience by Kroger.
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