“You made that song your own.”

—Audience member to Jewel Ward about her cover of “Natural Woman” at “No Crystal Stair”, 15 May 2022.

Jewel Ward is a storyteller, a truth-teller, and a singer with a mission—to make her mess her message and her tests her testament. After setting aside her God-given gift for years, she reclaimed it with fierce intention, proving that the path back to one's calling is never truly lost—only waiting to be walked again.

Born into a family of musicians and performers, Jewel’s artistry is both inherited and earned. Raised on a rich mix of folk, rock, country, blues, Māori songs, Broadway musicals, and classical art songs, her music is a unique blend of acoustic folk, soul, and classic pop—rooted in history yet deeply personal.

With a charismatic mezzo-soprano voice that carries both warmth and conviction, Jewel delivers performances that resonate long after the last note fades. Her lyrics reflect the beauty found in imperfection, the wisdom in experience, and the courage it takes to be who you truly are.

After years of supporting the underground music scene through promotion and production, she returned to performance in 2019, picking up the acoustic guitar in 2020 and diving into songwriting as a way to process, heal, and connect. She has shared her music in arts ensembles and open mics, using these stages to refine her craft, connect with audiences, and embrace the joy of live performance.

From the rolling foothills of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge to England and New Zealand, Jewel’s music carries echoes of her musical family while standing firmly in her own truth. Every song is an offering, every performance an invitation—to feel, to remember, and to reclaim the stories that shape us.

Artist Statement

I am a storyteller with a guitar and a voice, reclaiming the gifts I once set aside. Music is my calling, my truth, my way of making sense of the world. Every song I sing, every story I tell is a testament to the journey—one of loss, redemption, and embracing our perfectly imperfect, authentic selves.

I believe that music heals and that truth—once spoken or sung—has the power to set us free. The gifts we are given are not meant to be buried but shared, lived, and brought to life. My music is about making my mess my message and my tests my testament—turning struggles into songs and brokenness into something beautiful.

I perform to connect, to inspire, and to help others reclaim their own gifts—to be a voice for those still finding theirs. My music is for those who have been knocked down but refuse to stay there, for those who seek joy even in the ashes, for those who, like me, are on the journey to becoming Real.

Adriana Chavela, the Executive Director of Hola Carolina, snapped this photo backstage during the 2021 Juneteenth Event in Hendersonville, North Carolina, on June 12, 2021.