Vero Beach's Jake Owen wins his first American Country Award

Vero Beach's homegrown country star Jake Owen won his first American Country Award for breakthrough artists on Monday.

The singer also performed the hit "The One That Got Away," his third consecutive No. 1 single, during the Las Vegas ceremony.

Owen is headlining Country Music Television's tour this year and became a father on Thanksgiving day. His last known appearance in Vero Beach was for his beach wedding to Lacey in May.

On Dec. 15, he returns to his hometown to perform his annual benefit concert at Holman Stadium at Vero Beach Sports Village. The proceeds of the concert benefit the Jake Owen Foundation, an organization he founded in 2010. The nonprofit supports after-school programs in Indian River County by the Mardy Fish Foundation, as well as St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis and Autism Speaks.

Read more details about what is considered Owen's best year in his career and his experience as a new father in Friday's issue of the Indian River Press Journal.