Jake Owen
Joshua Ryan Owen (born August 28, 1981), known professionally as Jake Owen, is an American country music singer. Signed to RCA Nashville in 2006, he released his debut studio album, Startin' with Me, that year.
Jake Owen
August 28, 1981[1][2] Winter Haven, Florida, U.S.
Vero Beach, Florida, U.S.
- Singer
- songwriter
- Vocals
- guitar
2005–present
This album produced three singles, all of which reached top 20 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart: his debut "Yee Haw", "Startin' with Me", and "Something About a Woman". His second studio album, 2009's Easy Does It, accounted for three more singles: "Don't Think I Can't Love You", "Eight Second Ride", and "Tell Me". In September 2011, Owen achieved his first number one hit with the title track to his third studio album Barefoot Blue Jean Night; also toppers were "Alone with You", "The One That Got Away", and "Anywhere with You". His fourth studio album, Days of Gold, produced two singles with its title track, which broke the top 20 in 2013, and the number one single "Beachin'".
Owen has also toured as an opening act for several other country artists, including Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Little Big Town, Sugarland, Keith Urban, and Jason Aldean.
Early life[edit]
Joshua Ryan "Jake" Owen and his fraternal twin brother Jarrod were born in Winter Haven, Florida, on August 28, 1981.[4][5] The brothers regularly participated in a variety of sports. Jake eventually took up golf, and began pursuing a career as a professional golfer, winning his first tournament at 15.[4] After graduating from Vero Beach High School, he attended Florida State University. A wakeboarding accident which required reconstructive surgery left Jake unable to continue participating in the sport.[3]
While recovering from his injuries, he borrowed a neighbor's guitar and began to teach himself how to play it. After seeing a guitarist perform at a campus bar, he asked the bar's owner if he could play a gig there. Eventually, he became a regular at the bar, and soon took up writing his own material as well.[4] He then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, making his first stop at a bank to open a savings account; after telling the bank teller that he was a singer and songwriter, the teller then asked if he had any recordings available.[5] He gave her a CD of his work, which she sent to the Warner/Chappell Music publishing company.
Personal life[edit]
Owen married model Lacey Buchanan on May 7, 2012, in Vero Beach, Florida.[22] The couple became engaged on April 7, 2012, after Owen proposed to Buchanan onstage in front of a crowd in his hometown of Vero Beach at his annual charity event.[23] After proposing, he jokingly asked, "You're probably wondering where your ring is, right?" referring to the fact that he proposed without a ring, and his single "Don't Think I Can't Love You" which he had performed prior to proposing.[24] The couple had their first daughter on November 22, 2012, Thanksgiving Day.[25] The couple divorced in August 2015 after three years of marriage.[26] Owen and girlfriend Erica Hartlein welcomed a daughter on April 29, 2019.[27]
In 2010, Owen founded a nonprofit charity, which has raised over $3 million as of 2022.[28] Initially to offer financial support on a national level to children battling cancer, it now provides assistance to various youth organizations in Indian River County. The foundation holds an annual Jake Owen Foundation weekend where he performs to raise money for the foundation.[28]
Owen is a keen golfer, and, in November 2017, it was announced that he would be teeing up in the Nashville Golf Open on the Web.com Tour in May 2018.[29]
While speaking with Barstool Sports in an April 2, 2019, interview, Jake Owen described an encounter with Phil Mickelson at Jordan Spieth's wedding in November 2018, where Mickelson told Owen to go 'f---' himself.[30] The verbal altercation was initiated by Owen who voiced his disappointment with The Match: Tiger vs Phil head-to-head match play golf challenge, a pay-per-view event, on which he spent $29.99 and wanted a refund. As told by Owen, Mickelson pulled a wad of $100 bills from his pocket and responded, "Yeah, I won 90,000 of these yesterday. Take one and go f--- yourself."[31] The event purse was $9 million. Mickelson verified the truth of the story via Twitter.[30]
During gay pride month in June 2019, Owen released a video performing a cover of "Believe", a song made popular by Cher and one of the anthems used by LGBT community. It was in support of his close friends and coworkers who are gay. The post sparked backlash from fans who threatened to boycott his concerts and music. In response, Owen suggested to those fans that they come to his concert and he would be happy to give them a hug and stated "You need one."[32]
WINNER - Academy of Country Music (ACM)
WINNER - American Country Awards
NOMINEE - ACM
NOMINEE - American Country Awards
NOMINEEE - Canadian Country Music Awards
NOMINEE - Country Music Association Awards