Jake Owenâs biggest hit is undoubtedly 2011âs âBarefoot Blue Jean Night,â a summery anthem about never growing up, never slowing down. In 2025, though, Owen isnât feeling those lyrics so acutely. âNow, all these years later, Iâm going, âI totally grew up. Iâve totally slowed down in certain ways,ââ he says. âIâve just become a guy that wants to sing songs for people that have also matured with me in my life.â
A trusted troubadour for hot summer nights and cold beers, Owen is now in his forties, tangling with separations from lost lovers, raising kids, and growing out of the fresh-faced kid that headed down to Nashville 20 years back with a six-string and a dream. Not that he doesnât still have both â the latter has just matured. Case in point: Dreams to Dream, Owenâs long-awaited, Shooter Jennings-co-produced foray into classic, honky-tonk country, out TK date on TK label. Owenâs first independent studio album, featuring 10 original tracks and two stellar covers, tells the tale of a man at a crossroads â and what it takes to set out a new path.
Owen wasnât expecting much when he commented on one of Shooter Jenningsâ Instagram posts, half-jokingly suggesting that they make a honky-tonk record, but the producer called his bluff. Two days later, Owenâs manager had Jennings on the line and, soon, Owen was on his way to L.A. and Jenningsâ Sunset Sound. It was a cozy yet electric scene: Jennings and Owen cracking jokes in the sepia-toned studio, creativity crackling as they collaborated with the likes of songwriters Ben Chapman and Kendell Marvel, as well as long-time shooter pal, guitarist/harmonic player Leroy Powell.
âAll my friends who have heard my stuff have gone, âDude, Jake, this is you man. This is who youâve always tried to be,ââ Owen says. âSometimes you need to get outside whatâs comfortable, what people think you are, or think you should be, and take a risk.â