Jewel is no stranger to performing for massive crowds, but sometimes the pop star likes to have a little fun in unexpected places. With the help of Funny or Die, she pulled off an epic undercover karaoke prank at a dive bar, singing her own songs while disguised as an ordinary businesswoman. The challenge? To see if the crowd would recognize her.
To make the transformation complete, the team went all out. Jewel wore a wig, huge Coke-bottle glasses, a massive fake nose, and a “plumpening suit” that gave her a noticeably bigger backside. She blended into a group of middle-aged businessmen, who helped set the stage for the prank.
They encouraged their “colleague” Karen to take the mic, hyping her up as if she were just an office worker who loved karaoke. The crowd got into it, cheering for “Karen” to step up and show off her singing skills. But no one was ready for what happened next.
At first, “Karen” acted shy, hesitating as if she had stage fright. Then, the moment she opened her mouth and started singing “Who Will Save Your Soul,” that unmistakable voice filled the room. The audience was stunned. Some people gasped, while others stood there with their mouths wide open, unable to believe what they were hearing.
As soon as she finished, the crowd erupted into applause and demanded an encore. Still in disguise, Jewel gave them another song—this time, “Foolish Games.” The entire bar was hooked. People waved their hands in the air, singing along as if they were at a real concert. The energy in the room was electric.
Even after the second song, everyone still thought she was just an incredibly talented businesswoman who happened to love karaoke. Jewel then slipped out, removed her disguise, and returned for the big reveal. When she stepped back on stage as herself and started singing “You Were Meant for Me,” the crowd went wild. This time, they knew exactly who she was, and they sang every word with her. It was a magical moment.
Later, Jewel reflected on the experience. “The whole bar was singing along. I wrote that song when I was 18, and here we are years later, and everyone still knows all the words—it was really sweet.”
The crowd was left buzzing with excitement. One man in the audience admitted, “At first, when I saw her sitting, I thought, you know, she’s kinda homely-looking. But then she started singing, and she was so sexy with how she danced.” He also mentioned that it was the first time anyone had ever gotten an encore at that bar. When the producers finally told him the truth—that “Karen” and Jewel were the same person—he was completely stunned. “That was genius!” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
Fans watching the prank online were just as thrilled. One commenter wrote, “Jewel was perfect for this gag. She performed in a LOT of coffeehouses before she made it big, so this probably felt just like home to her.” Another fan added, “No Auto-Tune, no lip sync… she sounds exactly like she does on her albums. She probably had just as much fun as the crowd did.”
If you want to see more from Jewel, you can subscribe to her YouTube channel or visit her official website for updates. One thing’s for sure—this undercover karaoke stunt was one for the books!
