“I think cancel culture is one of those things that kind of came out of nowhere,” Aldean shared.

Jason Aldean has been involved in several controversies in recent years, but the singer isn’t a fan of the “cancel culture” that comes with such heated debates. In a new interview with Hook & Barrel alongside his fellow “Buckmen,” Aldean opened up about the way he views the internet’s willingness to turn on public figures, noting that he doesn’t feel that it’s good for growth.

Aldean On Navigating Cancel Culture

“I think cancel culture is one of those things that kind of came out of nowhere, it’s like ‘oh we don’t like what you’re doing nobody buy that or nobody go to that store… whatever.’ I don’t necessarily agree with cancel culture just because I don’t really think it’s a healthy thing,” he said. “We are now almost teaching our kids not to mess up, because if you mess up once, you’re done. It’s like people are not going to like you or whatever.”

He continued, “So, I think It’s sending the wrong message to kids and everybody else. I think what we’re in right now is people want to see it hit other people in the pocketbook, and it is. To me, I kind of view it the other way as like you know, we’re teaching people if they screw up once you’re done, and I feel like that’s part of learning in life is just making mistakes, figuring out how to become better at it, and cancel culture kind of takes away a little bit out of the equation for that. It kind of makes it hard to do that. So, I’m not a big fan and honestly. I also don’t pay much attention to it.”

He Realizes People Will Always Have Their Own Opinions On Everything

Aldean added, “People are always going to have their opinions of things. You’re always going to have people on this side of the table or this side of the table. They’re never going to see eye-to-eye. They may see eye-to-eye on a couple of things here and there, but generally they’re never going to see eye-to-eye on everything. So, I think the sooner you kind of realize that like these people think this way and these people think this way… it’s never going to be whatever. It’s okay to disagree sometimes and move on.”

Jason Aldean’s Involvement In Controversy

The Georgia native began courting controversy after the 2020 election when he made his political opinions more public, as well as an online confrontation between his wife, Brittany, and Maren Morris as well as his 2023 single “Try That in a Small Town” and its accompanying music video, which caused a surge of backlash.

At a July 2023 concert in Ohio following the controversy around “Try That in a Small Town,” Aldean addressed cancel culture while speaking to the crowd.

“It’s been a long week, and I’ve seen a lot of stuff suggesting I’m this, suggesting I’m that,” he said. “I feel like everybody’s entitled to their opinion. You can think something all you want to, it doesn’t mean it’s true. What I am is a proud American. I’m proud to be from here. I love our country [and] I want to see it restored to what it once was before all this bulls— started happening to us… love my country, I love my family, and I will do anything to protect that, I can tell you that right now.”

After the crowd erupted in chants of “USA! USA! USA!,” Aldean continued by decrying cancel culture and praising the fans who supported him amid the backlash he received.

“You guys know how it is in this day and age, cancel culture is a thing. If people don’t like what you say, they try to make sure that they can cancel you, which means try and ruin your life, ruin everything,” he opined. “One thing I saw this week was a bunch of country music fans that can see through a lot of the bulls—. I saw country music fans rally like I’ve never seen before, and it was pretty bada– to watch. Thank you guys so much.”

No Longer Afraid To Stir The Pot And Speak His Mind Without Being Intimidated

Additionally, while co-hosting Country Countdown USA alongside Lon Helton in October 2023, the father of four shared that he’s no longer afraid to express his opinion and has actually gained fans for doing so.

“I think as a new artist, you’re told not to stir the pot. I’m older now, and I’m not going to be quiet,” he told Helton. “I think that may have rubbed people the wrong way.” Aldean added, “On the flip side, I feel like I’ve gotten new fans. So I’m at a point in my career where I’m not going to be intimidated. I don’t feel what I’m saying is wrong, so I’m not going to feel guilty about it.”