Norah Jones feeling more comfortable with life on the road

NEW YORK -- Norah Jones has been on the road so long, she's considered putting a couch on the stage and calling her tour "The Couch Tour."

The sultry-voiced singer kicked off the U.S. leg of her world tour with the Handsome Band last week, fresh from playing through Europe in support of her new album, "Feels Like Home." And the shy Jones, who was thrust into stardom with her runaway hit debut "Come Away With Me," is feeling more at ease.

"Performing live wasn't that great the first time around," Jones said. "But I think there's a learning curve to it, and now I feel a lot more comfortable."

On stage, the normally stationary pianist is even striding out from her perch behind the piano to sing.

"I used to think I looked like a marionette when I stand up," Jones said. "Now I'm standing up more and wearing skirts more."

Jones concedes that much of this new performing ease comes from simply getting accustomed to the bright lights of a stadium tour. But her newfound comfort on the stage is also due to remembering that she's in control.

Jones, 25, says that while there are things that she has to do as such a popular performer, she finds the key is to "try to make it fun for myself."

Her new album, "Feels Like Home," sold more than 1 million copies in its first week of release in February. Jones' first CD, "Come Away With Me," has sold 8 million-plus copies and garnered her eight Grammys last year.