Jewel’s early life was filled with pain. After her mother left when she was eight, she faced physical abuse from her father, Atz Kilcher. “He was in a lot of rage and a lot of yelling,” she recalled. At 15, she left home and survived alone in a cabin, often resorting to shoplifting.
By 19, she moved to San Diego to pursue music but ended up homeless after refusing her boss’s advances. “I ended up homeless because I wouldn’t have sex with a boss,” she said. Anxiety and health issues followed, but music became her lifeline.
Despite fame, Jewel faced industry pressures, bullying, and eating disorders. “I was bulimic… I didn’t know how to fix it other than love myself.” After her 1998 success, she took a step back to focus on healing, using mindfulness and meditation instead of therapy.
She later reconnected with her now-sober father and remains devoted to helping at-risk youth. “I was determined to heal: to let go, move on…” Now, she’s fulfilled and at peace. “I’m good,” says Jewel — a woman defined by resilience, not fame.