Jonell is as honest as they come, both in her personal life and in her music, which is stunning in its raw power, scope and ability to take you places you've never been. She has survived bad business breaks and regrettable timing. In addition to her four official album releases, she has made three records that never came out because of various hassles. But she's not about to give up her dream.
She may be a best-kept secret in some quarters, but if you believe in karma and talent, then Jonell will have her day. She's getting ready to release another record this year, that should open yet more ears. Not that she's worried about it. "I'm a hippie, honey, from way back,'' the Kentucky native says with a laugh while sitting in her instrument-filled home in Nashville. "I'm not so much about thinking as about doing. And I'm not done with this yet. I plan to be involved with (my career) more and more. I relish that. Jonell has a voice that can belt like Janis Joplin but also convey the finesse of folk, jazz and Southern soul. She is a true musician's musician. Her own records have been first-rate, but she has also been summoned to sing backup studio vocals for the likes of B.B. King, Trisha Yearwood, Etta James, Wynona (on the hit "No One Else on Earth''), Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Waylon Jennings, Patty Smyth, A.J. Croce and Bruce Cockburn on his popular "Last Night of the World.'' Not many artists can boast that kind of respect. "For my whole career, I've gotten the question, 'Why aren't you a bigger star?' '' Jonell says. "But I'm not the person to answer that question. I've had the chance to do so many things, but it just hasn't been my time yet.''