Singer Jewel has leapt to the defense of controversial politician Sarah Palin, days after she lost the vote as the potential vice-president elect.

The Who Will Save Your Soul star, who grew up in Governor Palin's state of Alaska, is a staunch supporter of women's rights. And she's spoken out against attacks made by fellow musicians including Akon and Grace Jones that Palin wasn't ready to step into office.

She tells the New York Daily News, "Alaskan women are very can-do women. We're the pioneer state! The women who settled (in) Alaska had a large role in shaping it. The way I was raised, I never thought I was any different than boys. You can really see that in Sarah Palin."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)