Photo-illustration: by The Cut; Photos: Getty Images
Ever since Donald Trump won the election last November, celebrities and influencers seem to be competing to see who can go MAGA the fastest. The latest public figure to align with the new president is none other than Jewel Kilcher, the ’90s singer-songwriter best known for “Who Will Save Your Soul,” “Pieces of You,” and winner of the sixth season of The Masked Singer. (She was the “Queen of Hearts,” in case anyone was wondering.)
In a video posted to Instagram by Jessica Reed Kraus, the influencer also known as House InHabit, Jewel can be seen in a black and white dress performing an a cappella (and, frankly, somewhat spicy) version of “Over the Rainbow.” ” in front of a crowd of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supporters at the MAHA Ball last night. At one point, the camera pans to Kennedy and his wife, Cheryl Hines, who dab their eyes before coming over to kiss the singer. Jewel also posed for photos with Elon Musk’s mother, Maye, and sister, Tosca, who were also in attendance.
For some reason, Jewel was not listed as a performer in the event’s press release nor did she post images of the performance on her own Instagram. But her appearance at the MAHA Ball isn’t the first time she’s been publicly associated with Kennedy Jr. On Jan. 4, she posted a photo to her Instagram in which she poses with RFK Jr. and two of his children, Kyra and Conor, at an event for his Inspiring Children Foundation, a non-profit organization aimed at improving the lives of at-risk youth. Although she doesn’t often speak openly about her political beliefs, Jewel publicly defended Joe Rogan after he was criticized for spreading misinformation about vaccines, and she spoke out in support of the 2022 film. The sound of freedomabout anti-child trafficking activist Tim Ballard, who has been criticized for his unrealistic depiction of trafficking and Ballard’s unorthodox methods that put victims in danger. (Ballard later resigned from the organization he founded after several women sued him for sexual misconduct.) “It saddens me that some media are trying to politicize this film. It’s neither the left nor the right. This is millions of trafficked children,” she wrote in her tweet about the film. (Jewel did not respond to a request for comment through her representative.)
Held at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, DC, the MAHA Ball also featured Vani Hari, known on Instagram as Food Babe; Russell Brand; and comedian Rob Schneider, who, according to a press release, was scheduled to perform “an exclusive comedy set.” It also featured a menu without seed oil, a nod to RFK Jr.’s fallacious claim that commonly used additives like canola oil and sunflower oil are poisoning us.
Jewel joins a small but growing list of celebrities publicly aligning with MAGA and its adjacent movements — or, at least, indicating their comfort in pro-Trump spaces — after the election. Carrie Underwood received intense backlash from liberal fans for her decision to perform “America the Beautiful” at Trump’s inauguration ceremony, while Snoop Dogg – former Trump critic – was called to perform during a pre-inaugural event called the Crypto Ball. They probably won’t be the last.
