Singer Jewel reveals tell all memoir on sexual abuse in music industry (Photo : REUTERS)
Having got her start in the music industry from the very bottom by playing at biker bars to eventually hitting success with more than 20 million albums sold worldwide, "You Were Meant For Me" singer Jewel addresses issues of sexual harassment in the music industry in a raw and emotive memoir "Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story."
The Grammy-nominated and multi-platinum artist has come a long way from her homeless beginnings in Alaska. Her latest studio album "Picking Up The Pieces" is scheduled to be released this week, 20 years since she released "Pieces Of You" in 1995.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter the "Foolish Games" singer traced her winding road to success and the harassment sexually that she faced in the industry.
The singer said the industry being very male-dominated it was never uncommon for young female singers to be taken advantage of with that said Jewel firmly told the entertainment website " I never slept my way to the top, ever. There was never one time I'eve ever compromised anything. I was always willing to walk away."
Jewel said on many occasions she saw young women who were vulnerable and being taken advantage of and said men have hit on her since she was as young as eight. However, she said that the traumatic experience of her youth helped her later on when she got her big break and signed on with Atlantic Records at the age of 18.
According to Access Hollywood Jewel was homeless at the time she secured her record deal, and incidentally it was owing to sexual harassment she was made to survive on the streets.
While just starting out by singing in San Diego in bars and coffee shops she said her boss at the time sacked her for refusing to have sex with him. Without a job she could no longer pay rent and lived out of her car till it was stolen.
The singer's memoir is set to be released on Sept. 15.
