Nashville TV contest winner Buddy Jewell quickly rising to fame
By JOHN GEROME
The Associated Press
Sept. 18, 2003

After winning a "Nashville Star" television contest and a high- profile record deal, Buddy Jewell suddenly found himself in a position to dish out some payback to the Music Row establishment that snubbed him for 10 years.

It came while sifting through dozens of songs music companies were pitching him for his debut CD on Sony Music and Jewell admits it felt darn good.

For years I had been taking them songs that they said were too country, says Jewell, a large, soft-spoken man with a goatee. Now, they were bringing me songs and I was telling them they were too pop.

The story is just one part of Jewells rags-to-riches tale.

The Arkansas native has driven a beer truck, washed cars and bagged groceries. Hes been a nightclub bouncer, door-to-door salesman and UPS worker. Hes played bar after bar, won national talent shows and opened concerts for big-name acts. Hes kicked drinking and drugs, been divorced and remarried, sung demo tapes and chased record deals.

Until now. "Nashville Star," the viewer-voted talent show, followed a dozen contestants living in a house on Music Row as they competed for the Sony contract. It ran for nine weeks on the USA Network, until only Jewell and his guitar were left.

A 41-year-old father of three, Jewell was considered too old for video and his sound too traditional for radio. He was vying against attractive women half his age and a young man with earrings and spiky hair.

But viewers liked him.

When the show ended, Jewell had an unusual level of exposure for a new act. Sony wanted to capitalize by releasing the album as soon as possible.

He went into the studio with producer Clint Black and finished in eight days a quick turnaround by any standard.

Reviews and sales have been positive. The 11 songs include three written by Jewell: the sentimental Help Pour Out the Rain, the weepy One in a Row and the up-tempo Abilene.

Simply titled Buddy Jewell, the album entered the Billboard country chart at No. 1 the first rookie act in seven years to do so. The single, Help Pour Out the Rain, is at No. 18 and climbing. Its inspired by Jewells daughter, Lacey, who once asked her father if he thought God would let her help pour out the rain when she got to heaven. Jewell said he has received a lot of fan mail about the song from people with terminally ill or deceased children.

The most fitting song on the album might be the opening track, I Wanna Thank Everyone. Jewell didnt write it, but he should have. The song is a backhanded compliment to naysayers with the lyrics, You know who you are, You all played the part in pushing me on to my dreams.

Its really my story in a nutshell, Jewell says.

Buddy Jewell
With: Rodney Atkins
Where: Graham Central Station, 7800 S. Priest Drive, Tempe
When: 7 p.m. Thursday
How much: $15
Info: