Now 13 years into her career, 34-year-old pop singer Jewel isattracting a new audience of fans, this time in Country music. VOA'sMary Morningstar has this report on Jewel's latest album, PerfectlyClear.

Jewel

Jewel says she's been writing Country songs all her life, yet Perfectly Clear is her first album aimed at a Country audience.

In1995, Jewel was signed to Atlantic Records, which dropped her in 2007after disappointing sales of her album Goodbye Alice In Wonderland. Her first album, Pieces Of You, sold 12 million copies to become oneof the biggest-selling debut releases of all time. During her 13 yearswith Atlantic Records, Jewel sold a total of 27 million albumsworldwide. They produced such pop hits as ""Who Will Save Your Soul","You Were Meant For Me," and "Hands."  

Jewel feels her turn ofdirection toward Country music was a natural progression in hercareer. She lists Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson and Loretta Lynnamong her musical influences. And, five of her six studio albums wererecorded in Nashville. Scott Borchetta, who heads one of the city'stop independent labels, Big Machine Records, offered Jewel amulti-album deal on his second label, Valory Records.  "She's one of the best singer-songwriters in any genre," Steve says.

Jewelwrote or co-wrote all but one track on Perfectly Clear. Her recentTop 20 Country hit, "Stronger Woman," deals with female empowerment.  "I wrote it for a lot of women and for myself. If something's wrongwith my life, I need to fix it. You don't wait around. Nobody owesyou anything. It's up to you," she explains.

Perfectly Clear entered Billboard's Country albums chart at Number One and the Billboard 200 at Number 8.  

Jewelplans to keep very busy in the coming months. She's performing on BradPaisley's U.S. summer tour, and is a judge on Country music'stelevision talent competition, "Nashville Star." Helping her choosethis year's "Nashville Star" winner are songwriter Jeffrey Steele andJohn Rich of the popular duo Big and Rich, who co-produced PerfectlyClear.