Living solo in San Diego after graduating from high school, singer and songwriter Jewel said that she became homeless once her boss at a computer warehouse fired her when she refused to sleep with him. During her year of homelessness, she continued to write songs and perform at local coffee houses and notes on her personal website: “I developed a loyal following. No one knew I was homeless.” Jewel’s debut album, Pieces of You, went on to go platinum 11 times over.