Early December marks the start of the holiday season for most people, but it means something more to those on the Treasure Coast.

It’s when country music star Jake Owen comes home to Vero Beach to play an annual benefit concert for his foundation.

And Owen isn’t the only one who looks forward to the local show.

“I see people out on the road all year long (who) make plans around the first week of December to come to Vero Beach and spend a few days,” he said.

Owen, 37, called me more than a week before the Dec. 8 benefit concert to talk about the foundation, this year’s lineup, the country music industry and his new TV show.

He just finished his Life’s Whatcha Make It Tour and was in Nashville, his current home, taking care of some end-of-the-year radio obligations and putting finishing touches on his next album.

He also has been unplugging and looking forward to slowing down after the charity event.

MORE:Jake Owen Foundation's benefit concert is back this year with three other country artists

This year, the Jake Owen Foundation benefit concert is at the Indian River County Fairgrounds, which can accommodate even more people than the previous venues of Holman Stadium and the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center.

“We’ve always really wanted to grow this as much as possible because I feel like it’s great not only for the charitable aspect,” Owen said, “but it’s great for the community and bringing a lot of people to town.”

Giving back

I’ve gone almost every year to his foundation’s benefit concert, but I’m most excited for this year’s lineup, which brings old and new country music together with Joe Diffie, Morgan Wallen and Chris Lane.

The goal of the lineup was to attract a wider variety of country music fans, having something for everyone, he said.

However, it’s the connections he’s made in Nashville that got these three particular acts to come to town.

“From a young age, my parents always said surround yourself with people that are good people,” Owen said. “For guys like Joe Diffie and Chris Lane and Morgan (Wallen), they’re great people, and they’re doing the same thing that I am.

“It’s not hard to call your buddies and tell them, ‘hey, would you mind coming to my beautiful hometown, playing some music for people that are raising a ton of money for kids.”

The foundation, which was established in 2010, benefits St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital nationally and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indian River County and other charities locally.

Wallen and Lane, who are on the label Big Loud Records with Owen, are covering their own costs, Owen said. That means more money can go back to the foundation.

“I never thought in a million years that I would be able to come back home and bring friends like that and put a great concert on and all at the same time raising a bunch of money for some really great causes,” Owen said.

Country music

As a lifelong country music fan, I wanted to ask Owen how Diffie’s sound from the ‘90s compares to what we hear on the radio today with Owen, Wallen and Lane.

Owen compared music to art.

“Every artist, whether they paint on a canvas or they strum a guitar, has their own way of doing it,” Owen said. “I’ve never really judged someone’s art; I’ve always just appreciated it for what it was.”

He noted the country music industry changes constantly and is full of great, diverse artists from Chris Lane to Chris Stapleton.

“Everybody kind of fits into this puzzle of country music somewhere,” Owen said. “They’re writing and singing about something that somebody else relates to.

“That’s what’s really special about country music,” he explained. “It does speak to so many different individuals, it covers so many different types of people.”

Even Owen’s music has evolved since he started his career more than a decade ago. Songs he couldn’t write or sing about at 23 made more sense at 33, he said.

His family, which continues to grow with his second child on the way, has influenced certain feelings, stories and songs.

“Being from Florida, a lot of my songs have that thread of Florida influence in them,” Owen said. “I’ve seen as I’ve gone on in life how much more of that stems into my music.”

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When in Nashville, he misses the beaches, the sunshine and the palm trees of Florida, Owen said.

He also misses his family. His daughter lives in Naples, and his parents and twin brother still live in Vero Beach.

He tries to come back to his hometown as much as possible.

“Everyone there is so kind, and they’re so supportive, and they’re proud of me,” Owen said. “And I want to make them proud.”

New talent

Owen already has taken the next step in his career, going from being the talent to finding it.

He’s a judge on “Real Country,” a music competition TV show on the USA Network, with country music legends Shania Twain and Travis Tritt.

MORE:Shania Twain, Jake Owen team up for new singing competition 'Real Country'

It’s different from shows such as “American Idol” and “The Voice” because it’s a singular-genre show, he said.

“It’s only country music, which I think is really cool for everyone out there that is a big country music fan,” Owen said. “There’s so many different kinds of country music. What is country and what isn’t country has been a discussion for a long time.”

Owen doesn’t think there’s a single answer.

“It’s whatever is authentic to that human being and how they live and how they grew up.”

The show is a way for him, Twain and Tritt to shine a light on talented new artists.

And it’s another way for Owen to give back.

He’s bringing some of those up-and-coming country singers to Vero Beach during his benefit concert weekend, including Larry Fleet, who was featured on an episode of “Real Country.”

“We’re just trying to entertain everyone that weekend and make them feel good going into the holidays,” Owen said. “They’re giving back to a great cause. What a way to end the year.”

Before I let him go, I asked Owen if there would be any surprises at this year’s foundation show.

I might have hinted how I would love to see him get on stage with Diffie to sing “Prop Me up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)” or another country classic.

“You never know, but we’ll see,” Owen said. “We’re going to try to work on something.”

BEST OF JAKE OWEN: Photos, video, social media

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Read her weekly column, Laurie's Stories, on TCPalm.com. Follow her on Twitter at @TCPalmLaurie or Facebook at faceboook.com/TCPalmLaurie.

Singer/Songwriter Happy Hour

Who: Angie Keilhauer and Larry Fleet

When: 4-6 p.m. Dec. 7

Where: Heaton’s Reef at Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel & Spa at 3500 Ocean Drive

Cost: Free (food and drink sales benefit Jake Owen Foundation)

Jake Owen Foundation Benefit Concert

Who: Jake Owen with special guests Joe Diffie, Chris Lane and Morgan Wallen

When: Dec. 8; Gates open at 4 p.m.; Concert begins at 5 p.m.

Where: Indian River County Fairgrounds, 7955 58th Avenue, north of Vero Beach

Cost: $45 general admission tickets (bring low lawn chairs and blankets); $100 premier tickets and pit passes; $150 VIP tickets include reserved premier seat, limited-edition Jake Owen Foundation t-shirt and early entry

Tickets: 866-333-7623; www.jakeowenfoundation.org

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