Jewel just hit us with a classic “I’m sorry if you’re mad, but here’s why I did it anyway” moment. And, spoiler alert: it’s all wrapped up in a sparkly bow of mental health advocacy and slightly teary Instagram sincerity.
Earlier this week, the 50-year-old singer (and everyone’s favorite ‘90s poet-turned-ukulele-wielding angel) took to the stage at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” ball in Washington, D.C., and let loose her iconic rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” But not everyone was feeling the technicolor vibes. Cue the fan backlash—and Jewel’s swift attempt at damage control on Instagram.
Jewel: The (Mostly) Apologetic Rainbow Warrior
In her post, Jewel laid out her reasoning for showing up to sing her heart out at RFK Jr.’s shindig, and honestly, it sounds like the kind of heartfelt monologue you’d find in the middle of an Oscar-nominated movie. “Mental health doesn’t care about your party affiliation,” she explained. Basically, Jewel’s out here saying, “Look, y’all, I’m not Team Red or Team Blue. I’m Team Get Your Brain Right.”
And before anyone could accuse her of playing politics, Jewel made it clear she’s not waiting around for her dream president to arrive on Air Force One with a perfectly balanced policy playbook. Nope. She’s diving in now—whether the waters are calm or filled with political sharks.
“If I wait for a world where I agree with 100% of everything, I’ll be on my couch in pajamas forever,” she wrote. Honestly, same. But Jewel’s couch apparently isn’t calling—because she’s too busy trying to save the nation’s mental health, one soulful ballad at a time.
A Little Apology with a Side of “But Hear Me Out”
Of course, the Grammy winner didn’t ignore the critics, especially her LGBTQIA+ fans, who were left scratching their heads. To them, she said, “I’m so sorry,” calling them “treasures.” (And honestly, who doesn’t love being called a treasure? It almost makes up for the awkwardness.)
Jewel doubled down on her mission: connection over division, relationships over isolation, and singing over… well, not singing. “I try to be a ray of light,” she wrote. A ray of light might feel like a tall order at an event some fans found shady, but Jewel seems committed to being that one person who believes a good conversation (and a great acoustic set) can solve anything.
TL;DR: Jewel’s On a Mission
Jewel’s Instagram essay basically boiled down to this:
1. She’s here to help save mental health—whether or not the politics get messy.
2. She’s sorry if her performance felt like a betrayal, especially to her LGBTQIA+ fans.
3. She’s not stopping anytime soon, so you might as well get used to it.
Jewel might have stepped on a few toes, but at least she’s tap dancing on them with good intentions and a heartfelt ukulele solo. Whether you’re mad, confused, or clapping along, one thing’s for sure: she’s gonna keep trying to make the world a little brighter, one hard conversation—and possibly controversial gig—at a time.