No. 1 Party: Jake Owen’s “The One That Got Away”

Pictured (back row, L-R): Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Terry Wakefield, Sony Music Nashville Chairman and CEO Gary Overton, co-writer Jimmy Ritchey, Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Jake Owen, BMI’s David Preston, co-writer Dallas Davidson and producers Joey Moi and Rodney Clawson; (front row, L-R): Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls, Morris Management’s Clint Higham and Universal Music Publishing’s Ron Stuve. Photo Credit: John Russell

Jake Owen celebrated his third consecutive No. 1 song, and his first No. 1 as a songwriter, during a celebration at BMI’s Nashville office yesterday (March 7). Hosted by BMI’s David Preston, the event honored Owen, along with “The One That Got Away” co-writers Dallas Davidson and Jimmy Ritchey, and the song’s producers Joey Moi and Rodney Clawson.

Presentations and awards were given by Morris Management’s Clint Higham, Sony/ATV Music Publishing’s Tom Luteran, Universal Music Publishing’s Kent Earls and Ron Stuve, CMA’s Brandi Simms, Country Radio Broadcaster’s Brad Hollingsworth and Avenue Bank’s Ron Cox, who donated funds on behalf of the songwriters to two organizations: Georgia Music Foundation and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Owen gave ample credit to co-writer Ritchey, not only for co-writing “The One That Got Away,” but for Ritchey’s involvement in his career. “Jimmy believed in me,” said Owen, who brought his daughter Pearl with him onstage. “He brought me to BMI and introduced me to Keith Gale. He deserves a lot of credit. This is a town built upon people’s relationships and people helping people.” He also thanked his wife Lacey, along with Sony Music Nashville’s Chairman and CEO Gary Overton, and his radio promotion and management teams. He also asked the attendees to keep his father in their prayers; Owen’s father is currently in the Mayo clinic being treated for cancer.

Davidson was also quick to honor a plethora of people who have been there for him. “Thank God for all my blessings and letting me have this career. And for my wife Sarah, the one that didn’t get away,” he quipped. He also thanked Moi and Clawson, along with Owen’s management team, before thanking Ritchey. “Jimmy, I came to town and was a fan of yours. To be onstage and sharing this with you is a big deal to me.”