Spidey Smith \/ Good Company Entertainment<\/span><\/p> “This business is fickle. They\u2019re always looking for the next thing. If it\u2019s working, everybody\u2019s all involved. If it\u2019s not \u2026 it\u2019s the next thing,” Owen shares.<\/p>\n “I got this feeling from Shooter, he was like, ‘Dude you\u2019re awesome. And I can\u2019t understand why you haven\u2019t made an album of these songs that you sit there on Instagram with your guitar and play,'” he continues.<\/p>\n Dreams to Dream<\/em>, out Nov. 7, is that album. It’s filled with originals inspired by life and \u2014 “traditional” isn’t quite the right word \u2014 old-school country music. This isn’t bro-country, which Owen will proudly take credit for later.<\/p>\n A few cover songs anchor him to a position far from public perception. “Them Old Love Songs” is one of them. Waylon Jennings cut the song in 1976, and Owen’s version doesn’t run from that time stamp.<\/p>\n So now we’re up to early 2025 and it’s time to record. Jennings’ studio is in Los Angeles but if you recall, wildfires were burning the city down at the time. Initially, Owen breathed a sigh of relief. He had the songs. He had a champion. He did not<\/em> have the inner-confidence or harmony he’d hoped for.<\/p>\n \u201cI called Shooter, I\u2019m like, \u2018Hey man, there\u2019s fires out there. Y\u2019all still working?\u2019” Owen recalls. “He goes, \u2018Business as usual man, come on.\u2019 He called my bluff again!\u201d<\/p>\n He flew in as everyone else was flying out, but flames beget flames and, “My life was on fire,” Owen shares.<\/p>\n Jennings and a five-piece band were waiting for him, and 13 songs later Owen came away with a sound he’s proud to pivot to. It’s not a reinvention as much as it is acknowledgement that we all grow old.<\/p>\n “I’m 44 years old now. I want to sing mature music. I want to be real with the people that are my fans,” he says.<\/p>\n “How weird would it be for a 44-year-old guy to release a song now that’s like, [sings] ‘Whoa-oh, never gonna grow up…’?” the singer explains.<\/p>\n With Dreams to Dream<\/em>, Owen is “Feeling Better.” The title track of the album actually hat-tips Hank’s original, but he shares that he identifies with every emotion on The New South<\/em>. It’s fitting, right?<\/p>\n After all, Hank’s big pivot was produced by Richie Albright… and Waylon Jennings.<\/p>\n These 23 modern country singers prove that traditional country is alive and well. Cody Johnson, Justin Moore, Aaron Watson and newcomers like Triston Marez and Lauren Mascitti are staying true to country music’s roots. Scroll down to find an artist you’ll love.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Who had the most played country song during the year you were born? This list is a fascinating time capsule of prevalent trends from every decade in American history. Scroll through to find your birth year and then click to listen. Some of these songs have been lost through the years, many of them for good reason!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nThese Artists Prove Traditional Country Is Alive and Well<\/h2>\n
See the Most Played Country Song from the Year You Were Born<\/h2>\n