After being crowned the winner of the televised music competition Nashville Star in 2003, Arkansas native Buddy Jewell took the world of country music by storm with his tender, heartfelt voice that gained him millions of fans nationwide.
Two albums down the road, the show that won him a record deal with Sony based Columbia Records also ended up costing him his deal in 2005 when Jewell and the label parted ways for financial purposes.
“As long as I was an artist on Sony Records, Nashville Star was going to get half of what the label was making on me,” Jewell explains. “It didn’t make good business sense for Sony to keep pouring money down a hole that they were only getting half of their money back on.”
With his fan base stronger than ever, Jewell continued to tour and spread the word of his music.
“A lot of my fans have told me hey, we know you don’t have a deal right now but we want you to keep making music and keep making records,” says Jewell.
Jewell decided to try his hand in the independent music scene in early 2008 when he formed his own label Diamond Dust Records.
“It’s all me,” the singer says with a chuckle. “I’m the President, Secretary, and the Janitor – you name it! There’s a lot of peace in the freedom of having all of the control. I’m not opposed to another record deal, but it’s kind of nice being my own boss.”
Jewell’s first album on the label, Country Enough, has already become a fan favorite. The album is available at his live shows, through his website, and also through iTunes.
“A large part of my fans that I talk to say we love your first two records, but we really liked those independent things you put out before Nashville Star because it was all the things you had written,” Jewell says.
The result is a 13-track album filled with all songs written or co-written by Jewell that shows the proud American in the singer with songs like “What This Country’s Comin’ To” and the album’s debut single “This Aint Mexico,” in which Jewell states his opinion of illegal immigration in United States.
“Every now and then I get somebody mad at me, but they are definitely entitled to their opinions,” he says. “That’s what makes this America. It wouldn’t be controversial if it pleased everybody.”
Fans of Jewell’s softer side will enjoy tracks such as “Leavin’ Louisana,” “Second Chance of a Lifetime,” and “The Ones I Love The Most.”
“I’m really proud of this whole project,” he says. “It’s a collection of songs that I’ve written and become fond of in the past two or three years. I just hope everybody likes it as much as I do.”
Four of Jewell’s biggest fans are his wife of 20 years, Tené, and their three children, sons Buddy III, 18, Joshua, 7, and daughter Lacey, 14, who was the inspiration behind Jewell’s first hit “Help Pour Out The Rain (Lacey’s Song).”
“I was so busy those first few years after Nashville Star and trying to support the first two albums that I missed a lot of time at home,” Jewell says softly. “It’s become a much more manageable pace for me now. It was great getting out, seeing all the fans and playing everywhere though. Back then I was still really lucky to be home about every week, even when I was doing 140 shows a year.”
Throughout his career, Jewell has earned recognition with award nominations from the ACM for Best New Artist, the CMA for the Horizon Award, a CMT Flameworthy Breakout Video nod and a Grammy nomination for his participation on the country gospel compilation album, Amazing Grace III. ABC Radio Network also awarded Jewell in 2003 with their Listener’s Choice Award for New Artist of the Year and was given Music Row magazine’s Critic’s Pick Award.
Other honorable mentions for Jewell include being the spokesperson for the Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation, his extensive work with St. Jude’s Children’s Research and his participation with the Angel Tree fund drive.
Jewell currently is on tour with Trent Willmon, Mark Wills and Ray Scott as part of the 2008 Honky Tonk Tailgate Party tour where they will continue playing dates coast-to-coast throughout the year.
“There are thousands of people who move to Nashville every year trying to do what I do and what I have gotten to do. I have been so blessed. If it all ends today, I don’t have anything to complain about. I can’t ever look back at the Nashville Star experience and be bitter because it opened that door,” Jewell notes. “Just to be given this opportunity is all I can ask for.”
