Howell to open for Foxworthy

If you’re opening for Jeff Foxworthy …
… you might be from Jay County.
Owen Howell, a country music singer and Bryant native who now lives in Nashville, is opening for the Blue Collar comedian at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Jay County Fair.
Foxworthy, who also hosts “Are you Smarter than a Fifth Grader?”, marks a departure for the fair, which has typically had a country music act as its headliner. But even going the comedy route, the fair board needed someone to warm up the crowd.
Howell said he immediately jumped at the chance to play.
“It’s going to be a party,” Howell said. “It’s going to be a good time. I think the show’s going to be a lot of fun.”
The performance will be 45 minutes long and will feature eight songs. Three of the songs will be from Howell’s new album, which will be released the same day.
People in Jay County love country music, Howell said, so he’s sure they’ll enjoy his performance.
“There’s only one radio station in Jay County and (it plays) country music,” Howell said. “I think a lot of them will know quite a few of my songs.”
Howell graduated from Jay County High School in 1997. While in high school, he portrayed Mr. Patriot, the school’s mascot, was involved in wrestling and participated in all the plays and musicals. At the time, his father was the high school drama coach.
He’s played in Jay County before, two years in a row at the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Association Show and an acoustic set at last year’s fair. This year, he’ll have a full band and a new show.
“We’ve been working with Tom Jackson, who is one of the top live music producers,” Howell said. “He’s produced shows for Taylor Swift, Shawn Mendes, Sting, U2 … we’re just going to tour with our show for the rest of the summer.”
After releasing his first album in 2014, two of his songs, “Let’s Start a Party” and “Backyard Party,” received nationwide airplay. “Let’s Start a Party” reached No. 6 on the United Kingdom’s Hotdisc Top 40.
He also was nominated for male vocalist of the year, best new single and best music video for the 2015 New Country Music Awards, and won male vocalist of the year.
Howell can only stay in town for the day on Thursday because he has another show booked Friday. But even though finding time to visit as a musician is hard, Howell said he still makes it a point to come back to the area every couple of months.
His parents, Kimberly Kuhn and Tony Howell, still live in the area, along with most of his relatives, and he owns a house in Geneva.
Bryant and Jay County are a big inspiration for Howell’s music, he said. He even filmed the music video for his song, “Backyard Party,” in Bryant. It featured many of his family and friends.
“It has to do with who I am as a person,” Howell said. “Growing up in a small town, that’s what country music is all about.”