Jake Owen meets fans ahead of annual foundation concert with Darius Rucker, other artists

VERO BEACH — Live country music fills the air as Jake Owen walks around the poolside bar chatting with people, signing autographs, taking selfies and receiving gifts from doting fans.

It's a few hours before "The Flamingo Jam," a benefit concert Saturday for the Jake Owen Foundation, and hundreds are gathered at Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa for the Flamingo Songwriter Splash.

"It's just super important for me to give back to the community," Owen said about coming back to perform in his hometown. "They (Indian River County community) gave me a lot and every year we're just trying to come up with new ways and initiatives to be better."

The Jake Owen Foundation began in 2010 and since its founding has raised more than $4 million to help local and national charitable organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Riverside Theatre, Inc., according to Amy Jackson, a spokesperson for Owen.

"We're so proud of our hometown guy," said Vero Beach resident Tera Skubic, 39. "We're really proud and honored that he comes back and does this."

Did Jake Owen do a pop-up performance?

Owen made a pop-up appearance Friday night at the Riverside Theatre in Vero Beach during the Bobby Bones comedy show. He surprised eventgoers by performing with fellow musician Darius Rucker, frontman of Hootie and the Blowfish.

Earlier this summer, Owen was spotted dining and filming a music video for his song "On the Boat Again" off his 2023 album, "Loose Cannon," at various Treasure Coast locations.

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What is the Owen Army?

Most people at the resort Saturday were Treasure Coast locals, but some were members of the Owen Army, superfans of the singer/songwriter.

LaVonda Harrison traveled from Dallas for the Saturday night benefit concert in Vero Beach, which will be her 304th Jake Owen concert.

Harrison, 57, became a fan after watching him open a show in 2011 for Keith Urban in Biloxi, Miss. Her next shows for Owen are international: She plans to attend his 2024 concerts in Ireland, Scotland and London.

"I have watched him grow as an artist," Harrison said. "The first show I was just in awe. He was opening for Keith Urban, and I was a huge Keith Urban fan. And as soon as Jake hit the stage, I said, 'Keith who?'"

By being a fan of Owen, Harrison has been able to meet other fans across the country. Throughout the years, they have established friendships and travel together to see Owen perform live across the country.

Who is performing at The Flamingo Jam?

Special guests Rucker, Daves Highway and Gary Roland and The Landsharks Band will be joining Owen Saturday evening at The Flamingo Jam.

Gianna Montesano is TCPalm’s trending reporter. You can contact her at gianna.montesano@tcpalm.com, 772-409-1429, or follow her on X (formerly Twitter) @gonthescene.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Jake Owen meets with fans during poolside event in Vero Beach