Considering Jewel lives on a ranch in Texas and is married to a champion bull rider, it's no surprise she's finally recoreded a country album.

"I've been writing country songs my whole career; some of the songs on this record date back to when I was 18 years old. I've been hanging on to them until now. They were meant for a record like this one."

Perfectly Clear is produced by Jewel and leading US artist/songwriter John Rich from Big & Rich.

"Jewel is probably one of the greatest American singer-songwriters we have. It is such an honor to work with anyone of that caliber of talent," Rich says.

Jewel has spent a lot of time in Nashville over the last few years, and has naturally been drawn to and accepted by the Nashville music community.

Comparisons have been made to her debut album Pieces Of You, a pop album that was enormously successful. In fact it's one of the best selling albums of all time.

"If I were discovered today, there is no doubt that I would be signed as a country artist. Songs like "You Were Meant For Me" would have been a country hit today, and not a pop hit as it was in the 90s. The genres have changed more than I feel I have," says Jewel.

The album's first single 'Stronger Woman' appeared on the Hit Country 2009 compilation (released last November) and two further singles 'I Do' and 'Till It Feels Like Cheating' have been released in the US.

Perfectly Clear is most definately a country album, as opposed to a pop album re-mixed for a country audience. It touches on the quintessential country themes like heartbreak and betrayal alongside female empowerment.  

Jewel's new album Perfectly Clear is instores & online now through Universal Music Australia.

Check out the music video for 'I Do'...