Jewel to Co-Host NBC's The Sing-Off
Four-time Grammy Award nominee Jewel is joining “The Sing-Off” as a new judge, along with Shawn Stockman and Ben Folds, with host Nick Lachey (“The Winner Is”) also set to come back.
As recently announced, “The Sing-Off” received a new series commitment as a holiday strip to air over several nights later this year. “The Sing-Off” originally premiered in December 2009 as a five-night event and became a weekly series in 2011.
The program showcases the country’s top a cappella groups performing popular songs in ways that viewers have never heard them before. “The Sing-Off” has no lip-synching, back-up bands or safety net. They are singing with dreams of walking away with the ultimate prize — a recording contract and $100,000.
“There are very few musical artists as accomplished and talented as Jewel. Her addition to ‘The Sing-Off’ judges panel, along with our stellar team of Shawn Stockman and Ben Folds, raises the showmanship of the series up another notch,” said Paul Telegdy, NBC’s President of Alternative and Late Night Programming. “The musical credentials of Nick Lachey are extraordinary and his continued contributions to the show as host remain a huge asset.”
Added executive producer Mark Burnett: “I am so thrilled to welcome Jewel to our expert musical panel. Jewel is one of America’s greatest singer songwriters and is an amazing storyteller. In company with the incredible talent of Ben Folds, Shawn Stockman and Nick Lachey this season of ‘The Sing-Off’ is sure to be its best yet.”
Jewel is an acclaimed American singer, songwriter, actress, poet, painter, philanthropist and daughter to an Alaskan cowboy singer-songwriter.
Growing up on a remote ranch in Alaska, Jewel endured poverty and teen homelessness on the road to the triumph of international stardom. The four-time Grammy nominee has enjoyed career longevity that is rare among her generation of artists and has sold 27 million albums worldwide. Her debut album, “Pieces of You,” became one of the best-selling debut albums of all time.
Jewel released her first country record, “Perfectly Clear,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart in 2008. The next year she released her first-ever independent album, “Lullaby,” as well as her country follow-up album, “Sweet & Wild,” in 2010. In 2011 she released her second children’s themed album, “The Merry Goes ‘Round.”
In 2013 Jewel released a greatest hits album that featured a collection of her best-known songs as well as two new duets with Kelly Clarkson and the Pistol Annies, in addition to a new track titled “Two Hearts Breaking.” That same year, she starred to rave reviews as June Carter Cash in the film “Ring of Fire,” based on Cash’s life.
Nick Lachey, a multiplatinum recording artist, actor and television personality, first rose to stardom as the front man of the popular band 98 Degrees, selling 10 million albums worldwide and charting several top-40 hits. Lachey later went on to star in “Newlyweds,” one of MTV’s most successful series. In 2003, Lachey launched an enormously successful solo album career for which his second record, “What’s Left of Me,” went to No. 2 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart.
In January Lachey reunited with his Grammy-nominated group 98 Degrees to announce a summer U.S. tour, in support of the group’s recently released “2.0” album, with New Kids on the Block and Boyz II Men. Inspired by the birth of his son Camden, Lachey also recently announced the launch of a new lullaby album in partnership with Fisher Price, entitled “A Father’s Lullaby.”
Outside of the studio, Lachey has been a prominent television personality having hosted several major national network programs and specials, including NBC’s “The Winner Is,” “High School Musical: Get in the Picture” and “Clash of the Choirs.” Lachey has also appeared on several series, including “Hawaii Five-0,” “One Tree Hill,” “Charmed” and “Hope & Faith.”
In addition to his success in music and television, Lachey also remains a constant advocate for children’s and humanitarian causes through his work with organizations, such as VH1 Save the Music, Feeding America, Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. He is also founder and president of the Nick Lachey Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children, families and communities in need throughout the United States.
For 21 years Boyz II Men has been winning millions of fans the world over with smooth vocal harmonies, legendary hits, and unmatched stage presence, and founding member Shawn Stockman has been there from the beginning. As the group’s tenor vocalist, Philadelphia-born Stockman has helped to make Boyz II Men the best-selling r&b group of all time. For the past two decades, Stockman and his bandmates Nathan Morris and Wanya Morris have been crafting classic albums whose appeal has withstood the test of time. Stockman’s rich vocals have been part of timeless albums, such as “II” (1994), “Evolution” (2007), and their most recent releases, “Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville USA” (2007), “Love” (2009) and “Twenty” (2011).
Stockman and the Boyz celebrated their 20th anniversary by releasing the aptly titled “Twenty” in the fall of 2011. A further tribute to their success and the legacy of their music, Boyz II Men were honored with a star on the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2012. In March, they started their residency in Las Vegas at the Mirage’s Terry Fator Theater. This summer they are touring with New Kids on the Block and 98 Degrees and selling out venues all over the country as part of the “Package” tour.
Lastly, they signed a record and publishing deal with BMG and will have a new studio album out next year. Passionate about charity, Stockman is a founding member of both the group’s foundation, the Boyz II Men House (http://theboyziimenhouse.com) and his own personal charity, Micah’s Voice, which aids children and families affected by autism (http://micahsvoice.com).
Ben Folds first found mainstream success as the leader of the critically acclaimed, platinum-selling Ben Folds Five. He has gone on to have a very successful solo career, recording multiple studio albums, a pair of records documenting his renowned live performances, a remix record, music for film and TV, as well as numerous collaborations with artists from Sara Bareilles to William Shatner.
In 2012, Folds reunited with the Ben Folds Five and released a new album, “The Sound of the Life of the Mind.” The band continues to tour the world in 2013 and just released their first live album, “Ben Folds Five Live,” this summer.
A Nashville resident, he owns and operates the historic RCA Studio A, where legends of all genres of music — from Elvis Presley to the Monkees, Eddy Arnold to Dolly Parton, Tony Bennett to the Beach Boys — have recorded. Folds, who serves as a member of the board of directors of the Nashville Symphony, is currently composing a piano concerto that he will debut in 2014 as a part of a global symphonic tour. He has also enjoyed a special relationship with symphony musicians, having performed with some of the world’s greatest orchestras. Folds is also an avid professional photographer whose work has been featured by National Geographic and showcased in galleries, including the renown Richard Goodall Gallery in England.
A member of the distinguished Artist Committee for Americans for the Arts, Folds is also an outspoken advocate for music therapy and music education.