You’d think in the genre filled with songs about honky tonk dive bars and back porch beers that everyone would be a rowdy drinker.
And while that’s certainly still true (take Zach Top, for example), there are more artists than you’d think who currently lead a sober lifestyle. From Tim McGraw to Keith Urban, Brantley Gilbert, Ashley McBryde, Tyler Childers, Cody Jinks, recently Justin Moore, and even allegedly Morgan Wallen, there’s a pretty large and growing group of country music stars who’ve made the switch.
This list also includes “Barefoot Blue Jean Night” singer Jake Owen, who took to Instagram today to share a pretty monumental update in his sobriety journey. As of today, September 17, the Florida native is officially five years sober; he shared counting down his fingers to show social media.
During the video, Owen dived into the decision he made back in 2021, stating, “I decided five years ago I was not going to drink alcohol anymore, and here we are, five years later.” Giving himself a rightfully deserved pat on the back, he continued, “I’m kinda proud of myself, actually. I feel great; I have not made too many dumb decisions in the last five years.”
The country music star and father of two has been rocking the short-hair-and-mustache combo for years now, a far cry from his shaggy-haired look of the early 2010s—and I’ve got to admit, he has a sober glow. He noted that in part of growing older, sometimes you “have to recognize the flaws within yourself….and workin’ on it.”
Owen vulnerably opened up about the decision, continuing by thanking everyone who’s supported him along the way and reflecting on the dumb decisions he had made beforehand: “I treated people in ways I wish I could take back, said things that, you know, were just dumb. But part of getting better and part of life is recognizing mistakes and then moving forward.”
He ends his video diary stating he has no regrets and, of course, encouraged his viewers to follow in his footsteps (in the least soap-box manner possible): “If you’re thinking about it, it’s a big deal in life and it’s awesome and life only gets that much better.”
Owen truly seemed to be radiating the love and support he’s received over the years as he wrapped up the video by sharing that he was headed to Canada, fresh off yet another Florida golf outing with his dad— who apparently now rocks a nearly identical mustache to his son.
So if you happen to be a Sunshine State local, enjoy hearing “The One That Got Away” live for me at one of his upcoming Dreams To Dream Fall Tour Dates.