Song Selection Important to Jake Owen for 'Easy Does It'

It's been nearly three years since the release of Country singer Jake Owen's debut album. The 27-year-old Florida native took his time working on his second collection, Easy Does It.

Jake Owen wrote eight of the 10 tracks on his new album, Easy Does It. He was careful to choose songs that he'd want to perform night after night on his concert tours.

"I'm not going to pick a song unless I want to sing it for the next 20 years," he said.

During the past few years, Jake has opened shows for some of Country's biggest stars, including Brooks and Dunn, Alan Jackson, and Kenny Chesney. The experience not only taught him what it takes to succeed in the music business, but also helped him feel accepted in Nashville.

"There's been a lot that's happened in the past few years. I'm just really fortunate," he said. "Things are good though. I'm just kind of rolling along with the guys in the band. I've been working hard."

Before launching his career in music, Jake hoped to become a professional golfer. He won his first tournament when he was only 15. While in college, that dream came to an end when Jake was involved in a waterskiing accident. He began playing the guitar to pass the time as he recuperated from his injuries. The rest, as they say, is history.

Last year, Jake earned his first Country Music Association and Grammy Award nominations. In April, he'll be in Las Vegas to attend the 44th annual Academy of Country Music Awards. He's up for two honors, Top New Male Vocalist and Vocal Event of the Year for "Life In A Northern Town," which he sang with Little Big Town and Sugarland. Jake describes how it feels to be recognized by the Academy.

"It's a pretty amazing feeling," he said. "And, the greatest part is, now with these awards, the new show, it's fan-voted for the New Artist award, so you can go online and vote [at] gactv.com."

Jake will spend much of 2009 performing a North American tour that includes appearances at state fairs and Country music festivals. Easy Does It has so far produced a Top 10 single, "Don't Think I Can't Love You."