Singer Jewel releases album of lullabies

NASHVILLE, May 10 (UPI) -- U.S. singer Jewel says her new album "Lullaby" is filled with songs she wrote to help herself get through tough times.

The 34-year-old singer, whose full name is Jewel Kilcher, said she has been a proponent of lullabies and their soothing properties since she was a teenager and facing significantly stressful life issues, The (Nashville) Tennessean reported Sunday.

"I've been writing what I call lullabies for myself almost since I started writing songs when I was about 16," Jewel told the newspaper. "I moved out on my own when I was 15 and that was real stressful. I've had a great life but a real challenging life. Then, when I was 18 I ended up homeless for about a year and I was kind of scared. I would write myself lullabies."

She said "Lullaby," which includes five traditional lullabies and 10 of her originals, is intended to offer comfort and stress relief to listeners, whether they are kids or adults.

"So this is an album I've been wanting to make for a long time. It isn't just a kids' album," she said. "It just all has a really soothing mood that never breaks."