Most music videos run about three minutes or so, maybe four minutes. But Jake Owen needed more than four minutes to visualize the story of his song, “Homemade.”
When it came time to work on a video for the song, he wanted something different. When he read potential treatments for the video, Owen said, “Every one of them was kind of similar. It was the whole cliché of ‘I’m this guy from a country town and cut to a scene where Mom’s pouring sweet tea.’ I’m like, ‘No way, man. I can’t do that.”
Instead, he turned to the true story of his grandfather and grandmother, Bryan and Jean Owen, now both 97. They met by chance, in 1940, eighty years ago, as Bryan was hitchhiking from his home in Hopkinsville, Ky., to the University of Kentucky in Lexington. In Munfordville, Ky., he saw “a beautiful brunette” and later sent a penny postcard to her home. After the war, Bryan found that Jean had not married in his absence. Soon, they were engaged and they married in 1948.
Owen plays the part of his grandfather in the video for “Homemade” and the story plays out over 13 minutes – remarkably long for a music video. The mini-movie was directed by Justin Clough and is nominated for Music Video of the Year in the 2020 CMNA Awards, set to air November 11 on ABC-TV.
“Homemade” topped the Billboard Country Airplay charts in March this year. It was written by Bobby Pinson, Drew Parker, Jared Mullins and Ben Goldsmith. Released in June 2019, “Homemade” is the third single from Owens’ album Greetings From… Jake. More about Jake Owen at https://www.jakeowen.net/
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“I Know Country” Q&A from the book “I Know Country” by Preshias Harris, available in print or e-book editions at www.iknowcountry.com
QUESTION: Which country artist did Lisa Hartman marry in October 1991?
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Five musical superstars have joined forces in the fight against breast cancer, releasing a new song – “Pink”. The new single features Dolly Parton, Monica, Jordin Sparks, Sara Evans and Rita Wilson – who herself is a breast cancer survivor. This special collaboration benefits Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization.
The song was produced by Victoria Shaw and co-written with Erin Kinsey and Jodi Marr. The song is distributed by Brighter Day Records and available digitally everywhere.
The moving lyrics and vocals provide listeners with hope for a future when no one loses someone they love to breast cancer and “PINK is just another color.”
Listen, stream, download at https://blog.komen.org/blog/pink-as-another-color/
Each year breast cancer kills more than 42,000 women and men in the U.S. alone. Since 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed at some point in her lifetime, nearly everyone has or will be touched by this disease, whether personally or by someone they love.
“This is such a beautiful song of hope,” said Dolly Parton. “I’m honored to join with these powerful women to help support Susan G. Komen’s life-saving work.”
It will be a ‘big night’ at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum on October 28, when instruments that helped make country music history will ‘sing again’ in the hands of modern masters. BIG NIGHT (At the Museum) is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and the most ambitious digital fundraiser in the Museum’s history. It premieres at 8:00 PM CT, October 28, exclusively on the Hall of Fame’s YouTube channel.
Many of today’s stars will play iconic instruments that are part of the Museum’s exhibits, including those originally played by Earl Scruggs, Randy Travis, Maybelle Carter, Boudleaux Bryant, John Prine, Keith Whitley, Bill Monroe, Johnny Cash and more.
Among the artists appearing on the show and playing these instruments are: Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Ricky Skaggs, Marty Stuart, Kane Brown, Ashley McBryde and others. Just ahead of the premiere at the YouTube channel, at 7:30 PM, there is a Countdown to BIG NIGHT (At the Museum), hosted by Tenille Townes with special guest Carly Pearce. Townes and Pearce will each perform a song associated with an artist who influenced them, reflecting the broader aim of BIG NIGHT (At the Museum): to celebrate country music history and the music itself, which has endured across many generations.
The show is free to view, but donations will be gratefully accepted. For more info go to https://countrymusichalloffame.org/bignight/
The Gospel Music Association is featuring some exceptional Christian music performers for this year’s 51st Annual GMA Dove Awards. Artists scheduled to perform include “Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year” nominee Tauren Wells featuring Christine D’Clario, Jenn Johnson and Jekalyn Carr, Jeremy Camp, Travis Greene, Pastor Mike Jr., The Sound and Switch.
Viewers can tune in to the global broadcast Friday, October 30th at 8 pm EST / 7 pm CST exclusively on TBN. You can watch the trailer for a look at this year’s special show on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YixsrYfXTuI&feature=youtu.be
For a full list of nominees, visit www.doveawards.com
This Week In Country Music
Oct 25, 1992 Roger Miller (“King of the Road”, “Dang Me”) passed away
Oct 26, 1969 Waylon Jennings married Jessi Colter, former wife of Duane Eddy
Oct 28, 2007 Porter Wagoner passed away
Oct 29, 1967 Tammy Wynette scored her first solo No. 1 Country Single, “I Don’t Wanna Play House”
This Week’s Country Music Birthdays
October 25 Minnie Pearl, 1912 (died March 4, 1996)
Mark Miller (Sawyer Brown), 1958
Chely Wright (“Single White Female”), 1970
October 26 Kristen Hall (Sugarland), 1962
Keith Urban (in New Zealand, not Australia), 1967
October 27 Floyd Kramer, 1933 (died December 31, 1997)
Lee Greenwood, 1942
Steve Hardin (songwriter, “I Love My Truck’)
October 28 Charlie Daniels (died July 6, 2020)
Brad Paisley, 1972
October 30 T. Graham Brown, 1954
October 31 Dale Evans, 1912 (died February 7, 2001)
Darryl Worley (“Have You Forgotten?”), 1964
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“I Know Country” Q&A ANSWER: Clint Black. They tied the knot at Clint’s farm in Houston, Texas
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This Week’s Billboard Country Airplay Top 5
For the chart dated Oct 31, compiled by Nielsen Music/MRC Data
- (3) ‘Got What I Got” Jason Aldean
- (1) “One of Them Girls” Lee Brice
- (5) “Some Girls” Jameson Rodgers
- (4) “Lovin’ On You” Luke Combs
- (6) “Love You Like I Used To” Russell Dickerson
Preshias Harris is a music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Visit www.collegeofsongology.com for more details. Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com
Harris is also the author of “I Know Country” with 366 daily country music questions and answers. You can buy and instantly download your e-book copy at www.IKnowCountry.com.
