I love the music of pop artist Jewel. Is that her real name?
—Will A., Wyoming
Jewel was born with that name 26 years ago. She is named for her mother, Lenedra, whose middle name is Jewel, and her grandfather, Yule, a Swiss native who moved to Homer, Alaska, (pop. 4,608) in 1940. His name was spelled "Juel" in his homeland. You're not the only one who loves Jewel's music. Her first album, Pieces of You, released in 1995, sold more than 10 million copies, making it one of the top best-selling albums of all time by a female artist. Her second album, Spirit, released in 1998, has been certified triple platinum, meaning it has sold more than 3 million copies.
