Jake Owen is enjoying a very successful career — including recent hits like “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” and his current single, “Eight Second Ride” — but there were some lean days when he first moved to Nashville and he was caddying and commuting to Florida to earn some money. He’s grateful to be past those days, but every so often, Jake gives himself a little wake-up call. He tells us, “I catch myself sometimes goin’, ‘Man, do we really have four shows and five shows in a row this week?’ And then I’m like, ‘Wait a second! That’s awesome!’ You have to appreciate it. You know, I really do.” (AUDIO INFO BELOW)

• Look for “Eight Second Ride” and “Don’t Think I Can’t Love You” both on Jake’s latest album, Easy Does It. 

  Remembering his early days in Nashville makes Jake Owen appreciate his career success all the more. (:38)
“I remember the days when I left Tallahassee and moved up here to Nashville, and I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t know one person. I just moved here with the intentions of meetin’ people, gettin’ a record deal, and tourin’ around the country. And spent a lot of time on my own, by myself, in my little apartment, and workin’ at a golf course as a caddy to earn some extra money, and havin’ to drive all the way to Tallahassee to play a gig, eight hours away, to earn some money. And now, I catch myself sometimes goin’, ‘Man, do we really have four shows and five shows in a row this week?’ And then I’m like, ‘Wait a second! That’s awesome!’ (laughs) You have to appreciate it. You know, I really do. And I think it’s just, it’s all payin’ off.”