Best of luck to Jewels! We have shared emails a few times in the last couple of years and she seems to be a great gal...opinionated...but aren't we all?! LOL
Good Luck GIRL!

From a womans side ok, I think the men are taking her for a ride and thats all I am gonna say but if she is happy then more power to her, she does have some hot songs! And I love her kick ass attitude

I believe she is on the 7th.
Best of luck Jewels!

I really like Jewels' sound. She's got a little tough girl attitude going (like Gretchen). Her songs are pretty catchy too -- could very well make it as hits IMO.

Her logo silhouette is probably what make people think she may be a little trashy (looks like a logo for a strip joint - LOL).

Funny you should mention Gretchen, as that's who I thought of, too. I think Jewels sounds cool, and since the Muzik Mafia's infiltrating the show, heck, they need a "redneck woman" in the top 10, right?

When I saw the logo, I thought of truckers' mudflaps that I have seen whilst roadtripping between NJ and MI, or, more lately, TN and NJ....

Hey gang- Jewels here... yep, the one competing. Taya, you rock girl... you shoulda been in the regionals too! The Mudflap Girl is my logo... I'm reclaiming the icon as a POWERFUL independent strong female icon. My song "Mudflap Girl" off my record (you can download it on itunes) tells the story. It's not a naughty thing at all. And TennBabe, I've got the boys under control... but thanks for the concern! I'm singing on Saturday night, and I'm performing "Gone" by Montgomery Gentry, and my original is "Just Like Jack", which you can hear for free on my myspace page at www.myspace.com/jewelshanson . As for me, AND the rest of the gang, be careful not to judge a book by its cover. Some of these regional finalists are gonna knock your socks off... in ways you would have never expected!!! Best of luck to everyone competing. My prayer is that everyone just goes out and does their best and shows their true selves to the audience. And oh yea, have a whole lotta fun while they're at it! God bless everybody, see ya'll at the regionals.
-Jewels www.jewelshanson.com

How interesting that her name is "Jewels" (plural) and not "Jewel" (singular).

Hi, Jewels. I'll see you on Saturday. I like your cover choice!

She's at the top of my list. She's got a rockin country strong chick personality, an image similar to Gretchen Wilson, and look what the public thinks of her. I like her voice.

Hey Jewels, This is Gina I was in the Saddle Rack Idol Finals last year. I think you are awesome. I have you in my top 5 females moving on for Nashville Star! Glad to hear you are singing "Just like Jack". I love that song. My other absolute favorite is "Luckiest Girl"! I am keeping my fingers crossed and "I'm keeping my boots on" Best of luck girl. Go out there and do your thing Mud flap girl! Let me know how it goes!

Jewels rocks! She's got more honky-tonk in her than Gretchen Wilson could ever handle... She's in my top five. And if this is truly a reality-based series, Jewels is a lock. She's a great combination of determination, attitude, and the potential for backstage catfights... ha!

Hey gang,
About the name, my birth certificate says Julianne Hanson (no middle name)... and as a 5 year old soccer player, there were 5 versions of Julie's on the team. Even at age 5, I didn't like being called Julie because my first name is Julianne and that implied that my name was Julie Anne. I became Jewels, it stuck, and the spelling just happened... I even have a big diamond ring that says Jewels on my letterman's jacket from high school. I tried to professionally go by Julianne for a while, but nobody remembered my name, or I got the question "hey jewels, why did you change your name?". Of course, if you must, I grew up with two older brothers, and they always said I had some cajones, so to speak. Plus, it just fits.
By the way, after the Saturday night regional, we're heading to The Stage on Broadway to hear my friend Josh Brister sing... and celebrate. Come join us if you're at the Regional.

Gina, good to hear ya! See you back at the Rack! The new idol finals start next week. Come out and sing a few with us!
all my best,
Jewels

Go Get em girl!

Hey Jewels! Wow idol finals already again. Time sure does fly! I will have to come check out this round of talent. Anyone good? Did Jamie enter again or Nick? I would love to come down and sing a song with you and the band. C'ya soon!
Good luck tomorrow. We are all rooting for ya back here!

Gina

I agree! Jewels is HOT! I wish her the best tomorrow! I know she'll knock their boots off!
I too have her in my top 5!
Gina

Oh my! I feel so old - in my uhmmnm, er..'earlier life days' I used to hang at the Saddlerack in San Jose, obviously it moved to Fremont - course that WAS 25 years ago or so...how time flies! Doubt Jewels was even born then - good luck to you!!

Jewels, or anyone who knows, Where are you based out of? The Saddlerack was mentioned, I grew up in Fremont. Is'nt the Saddlerack still in San Jose, as well as the the new one in Fremont, or did it move?

Hey lane,

I can answer that one. I live in Fremont and it's not far from me. It's off of Automall. The San jose one closed and a few years later reopened in Fremont. Alot of the same people and then again alot of new ones as well. Wild @ Heart still plays there as well as California Cowboys and a few other occassional bands. Jewels band is the main House band.
As for Jewels she lives in Nashville now and commutes back to California for her gigs at the Rack.
Gina

Well she definitely reminded me of Gretchen Wilson in a lot of ways but there is no need for catfights! LOL Let's keep it peaceful! LOL She is darn good though, I'll give you that!

I just meant that she's a country diva waiting to happen! By the way, Jewels' band at the SaddleRack is APPALOOSA. Check 'em out at www.appaloosamusic.com. They're smokin'!

Hey teenbabe or whatever your name is, #1 Learn a littlte about life before posting here again., At least a few basic golden rules, for example, If you do'nt have anything good 2 say, do'nt say anything at all! #2 Dont bring up anything about your past post involvements, this is the 1st. time you've dealt with me. #3 Hears a quarter, call someone who gives a damb about what you have to say. Jewels has got so much going on for her, you're obviously Jelous. Do'nt bother posting back you've allready tried to do all the damage you can think up. You're deceitful & not welcome here as far as I,m concerned. Now go grow up, just do'nt do it here!

Wow! Hey guys let's all try to keep it nice! I know that is what Jewels would want too! We are all entitled to our own opinions and while sometimes somethings are better just left unsaid, we have to move past it.
I think Jewels is great! And I will admit I am a bit envious myself. I am a country singer too and I wish I were in here shoes right now! I just hope someday I can be where she is at today. That would be awesome.

Gina

Lane, Tennbabe - or whatever - seems blessedly to have disappeared - but he/she attacked a lot besides Jewels.

I was checking out Appaloosa last night. I know the old Saddlerack in SJ was HUGE - immense! I actually preferred Sam's Club - but is the new one giant also?

Oh Yeah. It's pretty big.
They have only 1 stage & 2 large dance floors. There are 3 bars, plus the food cart (Death Dogs) & then there is the Oxygen bar. Plus they still have the mechanican bull. Plus a pool table room. And the bathroom stalls look like horse stalls! Gina

You go girl! Wooo Hoooo! I listened to your music and liked it a lot! Powerful, independent, and strong, females are always a good thing! Go get 'em! Good luck and prayers to you!!!!

Ahhh, okay! That is good to hear and I do believe she is a diva waiting to happen! Or, should I say, waiting for MORE to happen, because she obviously has a LOT going for her already!

Ain't that the truth. Just commuting back and forth from Nashville to California regularly is a big to-do.

Good luck tonight Jewels!

Gina

Bonnie, You mentioned liking Sams a lot more than Saddlerack. Don Cox Band was the house band there forever. Do you remember him? His 3 Daughters are also musicians & singers. Thats what I'm saying, keep it nice!

Does anyone know if Jewels has performed tonight yet?
I wish I was there to root her on and all the other talented hopefulls! I am on pins and needles. I wnt to know how it went. I know we all will be anxious to know who makes the cut next week.

She'll make it, or my names mud!

I agree totally! Gina

Hey Lane,

You grew up in Fremont, huh? What part?

Gina

I graduated from American high school, & lived near Fremont blvd. & Gibralter. My Dad Graduated from Washington High. A lot of close friends there, have stayed in touch. That was the 1st. 17 years of my life. I'm near Sacramento now.

I was at the finals tonight, and YOU ROCKED JEWELS!!! Until you came on, the show was just so-so, but you had us dancing and rocking and I loved you! My first impression truly was a cross between Mary Chapin Carpenter and Gretchen Wilson. I loved your look, I loved the way you moved on stage (when you slid across the stage and stopped "under" the guitar player, we all loved it!) You just have it all, and I think you definitely have a chance at being the Nashville Star and wish you great luck!

Writing from California. Wish I could have been there. Jewels did well? She OWNS the stage whenever I've seen her. I think she was gonna do "Just Like Jack" as her original. A chick-drinkin'-song from what I remember. Was that the tune? Glad to hear she rocked the 'horse... er, house!

She did sing the Jack Daniels song. Her cover was "Gone". She did have a great performance, and the slide mentioned above did get a loud response from the crowd. I think you could say she was "on". I'm sure she's very pleased with her performance!

Just heard from my 'source' in Nashville (at 3:45am!) that Jewels kicked @$$ at the Wildhorse tonight... They said Jewels was really pleased with the way everything went. They also said there was a LOT of talent tonight, so the judges have their work cut out for them.

Congrats, Jewels! If she did her best, that ought to do it! Woo hoo!

Another fan in CA here. It sounds like Jewels kicked some major butt on stage tonight! WOO HOO!!
I don't get to the Saddle Rack often enough to see her perform, but when I have she is awesome. She owns that stage when she is up there - I'm keepin' my fingers crossed for her!

Jewels did a great job tonight. She has a very unique voice and is definitely a crowd pleaser.

Thanks for the update on Jewels' performance @ regionals.
Sounds like she did her thing as usual!

Way to go mud flap girl!!!!

Now we all sit on pins and needles waiting to hear which talented people were picked to move on.

Good luck to all!
Gina

Wow! I graduated from Washington high. Class of 1991.
That area has changed alot! Both schools got huge makeovers in the past couple of years. American High now has walls in the main building. Washington High has rebuilt and restored the old building look. I have not been on campus, but I'm sure I would be lost. It's nothing like when I was there.

Small world Gina

Hey ya'll! Thanks for the love. I had a blast last night. My knees are sore this morning from that knee slide... but it had to be done!! Have you SEEN John Bolinger (the guitar player)? I was pumping myself up just before going on and I was punching the air and managed to skim the wall and my ring cut my knuckle RIGHT before I went on. I was really proud of my friends Kassie Miller, Josh Helms, and Melanie Torres last night. They were awesome. Dean Miller is really charismatic. Mike Rodgers delivered for sure. Everybody was so nice, and friendly and will all be stars one day, regardless of the outcome of this show. You can't see ANYTHING from the stage, as the lights had us lit up, and it was like performing to the "Mother Ship" at an alien invasion... except that you could completely feel the love from the crowd. My cover was "Gone" and I slam-dunked the mutha. The band rocked it out, and obviously I was inspired because I felt the need to tear up my knees, and profess my love to Jack Daniels. What a great crowd!!!!!! In all, they can't say no cuz I didn't kick butt. I did my best, and now it's outta our hands. In the craziness, my friend Jenny forgot to press record on the camera when I came out for Gone. I have part of both Josh and Kassie's performances, and my own original, but none of Gone... so if by chance anyone else has it, let me know. I will find a way to post it in the next day or so.

As for the Saddle Rack, Gina gave you the right info. It's in Fremont, reopened in 2003 where my band is the house band. We play Thursday Friday and Saturday nights. I used to go to the old saddle rack, right after I turned 21... but it closed soon after. Alas, I had some good times there. We do our best to create more good memories at the new one. Andy, the original manager, is part owner and manager at the new place. A portion of the staff also worked at the former site. The family is still in tact!

Love ya'll, I'll post if I hear anything more!!!
all my best,
Jewels