Jake Owen Performs ‘Real Life’ at 2015 CMT Music Awards

Jake Owen brought some "Real Life" to the 2015 CMT Music Awards on Wednesday night (June 10), turning in one of the most memorable performances of the evening.

It was the world television premiere of the song, which is the first single from Owen's upcoming new studio album. Owen made the most of his big moment in front of the cameras and the crowd, staging a fun performance number that was almost like a fusion of community theater and television, entering the stage being carried on a bed and then jumping up to dance with the others on stage as he performed the fun song. He also made great use of a multi-colored backdrop and even pool toys on stage to act out the lyrics of the song.

"Real Life" was written by Shane McAnally and Ross Copperman, who co-produced Owen's upcoming album, along with Ashley Gorley and Josh Osborne. The song is a turn in a different direction for Owen, both musically and lyrically, drawing on some 1990s rock influences and pulling from true-to-life scenarios for its narrative. Owen tells Taste of Country he is deliberately reaching for more with his new album.

“I’m 33, I’m married, I have a kid,” he says. “My dad beat cancer. I’ve gone through a lot of real life situations over the last couple of years, and I said for me, on this record I want to get back to that. I want to get back to talking about things that are real to me, and real life scenarios.”

He launched the single with another unique and fun promotion, taking a bunch of fans out to lunch at a local Nashville Waffle House to bring attention to the new song.

Country Stars on the 2015 CMT Music Awards Red Carpet