Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stunned the group — and lots of followers — after enlisting Jewel to carry out at his Make America Well being Once more Inaugural Ball.
Jewel’s look was apparently a present to Kennedy’s spouse, Cheryl Hines, and was sudden — Jewel was not beforehand included on the checklist of performers for the 2025 Inauguration occasions hosted on Monday, January 20, in celebration of President Donald Trump’s second time period.
“We’re going to exit and make America wholesome once more,” Kennedy, 71, advised the group on the inaugural MAHA ball held in Washington, D.C., in keeping with a fan video shared via X.
Kennedy — who has been picked by Trump as his selection for the brand new secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services — then revealed how Jewels’ impromptu efficiency happened.
“I obtained a name from a girl, who’s Cheryl’s favorite musical artist in her complete life, and he or she stated to me, ‘I’m going to come back and sing to the group tonight,’” Kennedy stated, earlier than telling the viewers, “We’ve a particular deal with. Please welcome Jewel.”
Jewel, who didn’t publicly endorse both candidate within the 2024 presidential election, then took the stage to a room filled with cheers.
“I’m completely happy to be right here,” the 50-year-old singer stated. “I need to thank Bobby for sacrificing a lot to make America wholesome once more. To start out treating us like we’re an entire human. We’re a bodily, psychological and an emotional physique.”
The musician famous that she selected to sing “Someplace Over the Rainbow” for the event due to what the music symbolizes.
“I believe that it sums up the hope that based America and that I believe we’re all feeling once more,” Jewel stated earlier than she sang the enduring music initially launched by Judy Garland and written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for 1939’s The Wizard of Oz.
Jewel’s a cappella rendition introduced a tear to Hines’ eyes, who was watching from the facet of the stage.
The Curb Your Enthusiasm actress, 59, was seen fanning herself whereas standing beside her husband and wiping away tears, in keeping with an Instagram video from the occasion.
Whereas Jewel is a longtime health advocate, particularly on the subject of mental health, her efficiency was sudden. Whereas many followers appreciated her efficiency like loads of the musicians who appeared on stage in honor of Trump’s return to workplace, she additionally obtained some backlash.
Jewel hasn’t publicly addressed her determination to sing on the MAHA gala, however Carrie Underwood, who carried out “America the Stunning” on the official inauguration ceremony, did reply to the net backlash she obtained.
“I really like our nation and am honored to have been requested to sing on the inauguration and to be a small a part of this historic occasion,” Underwood, 41, stated in an announcement earlier this month. “I’m humbled to reply the decision at a time once we should all come collectively within the spirit of unity and seeking to the long run.”
Nelly, who took that stage at a separate inauguration event over the weekend, launched his personal assertion, claiming, “This isn’t politics.”
He defined, “The politics, for me, it’s over. He received. He’s the president. He’s the commander-in-chief of what I wish to say is one of the best nation on the earth.”