Jake Owen's father, Steve, is battling throat cancer and he is undergoing the first round of radiation treatment this week. The cancer originated near the back of his tongue, so the focus of the treatment will be on the throat and neck. Jake's father will receive the treatment five days a week for six and a half weeks and it will leave him with a terrible sore throat. He will also lose his taste buds for about a year. But even with the rough road ahead for his father, Owen remains optimistic about his recovery. Jake says, "He's gonna be good. You know, I talk to him every day. I think he gets annoyed with it because he thinks that I’m over-analyzing the situation. But I’m not. I’m just careful and my main goal is to keep his spirits high." Jake also says that he has convinced his father to get a small dog to be his companion while he is away from home receiving the treatment.