Jewel Amy E. Price/Getty Images
Jewel had a heartfelt message for fans who were upset by her decision to perform during one of President Donald Trump’s inauguration events.
“As many of you know, I’m a mental health advocate,” Jewel, 50, said in a video shared via Instagram on Friday, January 24. “If there’s anything that I’ve learned in the past 20 years, it’s that mental health affects everybody’s lives across party lines.”
The singer, who performed at Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again Inaugural Ball on Monday, January 20, went on to claim that she “reached out to the last administration,” referring to former President Joe Biden, and spoke to the “surgeon general about the mental health crisis that’s facing this nation.”
“I believe that there are things that we can do to save lives,” she continued. “I believe I can help. I have to try. And if I wait to try until I agree 100% with the people who might be willing to help me I would never get off the bench — I don’t think that’s how activism works, waiting until everything is perfect enough to participate. It’s actually because things are so imperfect that we have to find ways to engage and to participate. And we have to act now. We cannot wait another four years.”
Jewel faced harsh criticism from many of her fans — including members of the LGBTQ+ community — for participating in the event. In the same Instagram post, she spoke directly to those fans.
Jewel Taylor Hill/Getty Images
“Half of our country feels hope right now, and I honor that. And half of our country feels disenfranchised and scared and vulnerable, and that is unacceptable,” she said. “And I am so sorry that I caused pain, especially in my LGBTQI+ community because you guys are treasures — you make the world a better place. You’ve made my life a better place. And I will not stop fighting. None of us can stop fighting.”
Jewel’s Monday appearance at the inaugural event was apparently an unexpected gift to Kennedy’s wife, Cheryl Hines — the singer was not included on the list of performers for the 2025 Inauguration events.
“I got a call from a woman, who is Cheryl’s favorite musical artist in her whole life, and she said to me, ‘I’m going to come and sing to the crowd tonight,” Kennedy, who ran for president in 2024 before suspending his campaign and endorsing then-candidate Trump, said to the crowd. “We have a special treat. Please, welcome Jewel.”
Jewel, who didn’t publicly endorse either candidate in the 2024 presidential election, then took the stage.
“I am happy to be here,” she said. “I want to thank Bobby for sacrificing so much to make America healthy again. To start treating us like we’re a whole human. We’re a physical, mental and emotional body.”
In her Instagram post, Jewel said that she believes “there are people in the new administration that are willing to help” on the issue of mental health.
“I do not agree on all the politics, but if I can help shape policy and make sure mental health is in the conversation when it comes to American health, if I can help put resources or mental health tools in the hands of the most vulnerable who need it, I’m going to try,” she continued. “I am going to fight.“
