Aldean’s new single, “Try That in a Small Town”, caused backlash for its allegedly racist content and its music video was pulled from Country Music Television (CMT).
“Try That in a Small Town” was released in May 2023 and the lyrics speak about small towns struggling with the riots and lawlessness that many cities faced in the summer of 2020 .
Some of the lyrics in the song from Aldean’s upcoming, as-yet-untitled album include, “There was a gun that my grandfather gave me, They said one day they’d get it, Well , that thing can fly in the city, good luck, Try that in a small town, See how far you get on the road, You cross that line, it won’t take long, Let you find out , I advise you not to, Try it in a small town .”
Scenes from the music video were shot external the Maury Area Town hall in Columbia, Tennessee, where a 18-year-old Person of color named Henry Choate was lynched in 1927. The town hall was likewise a vital site during the Columbia race revolt in 1946.
The video likewise incorporates film of nonconformists vandalizing urban communities, flipping off cops and consuming banners, thought to be from the rush of police ruthlessness riots during the level of the pandemic in 2020.
CMT affirmed to Fox News Computerized on Tuesday that the clasp was pulled from its revolution however didn’t give additional background information to the choice.
In its statement, the company said, “Any alternative narrative suggesting the music video’s location decision is false,” and noted that Aldean did not pick the location.
After the music video was removed and there was an outcry about the song, Aldean took to social media to speak out.
“In the last 24 hours, I’ve been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that’s been out since May) and it’s been compared that I’m (direct quote) not too happy with executions. BLM protests nationwide,” Aldean shared with his nearly 8 million fans on social media.
“These references are not only useless but also dangerous,” he continued. “There is not a single lyric in the song that mentions race or indicates it – and there is not a single video clip that is not actual news footage – and although I can try and respect those other people to have their own interpretation of a problem with music – this has gone too far.”
He further clarified the meaning of the song, writing, “‘Try That In A Small Town,’ for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences.”
He added, “My political views have never been something I’ve hidden from, and I know that a lot of us in this Country don’t agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to- that’s what this song is about.”
The 46-year-old also mentioned his experience during the Route 91 Harvest festival mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017, which ultimately left 61 dead and hundreds wounded.
“And so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91, where so many lost their lives- and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy. NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart.”
Regarding the music video, Aldean’s wife, Brittany, offered her support on social media, sharing a selfie of the couple while on the beach and writing, “Never apologize for speaking the truth.”
She also went on her Instagram Stories, writing, “Media… it’s the same song and dance. Twist everything you can to fit your repulsive narrative. How about instead of creating stories, we focus on the REAL ones such as CHILD TRAFFICKING? Food for thought.”
Together, the couple has faced multiple controversies over their views.
Last year, Brittany shared a “get ready with me” video on her social media of her applying makeup with the caption, “I’d really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life.”
Aldean commented on her post, writing, “Lmao!! Im glad they didn’t too, cause you and I wouldn’t have worked out.”
The caption spurred reactions from people feeling the comment was transphobic, including country music stars Cassadee Pope and Maren Morris.
Pope tweeted that celebrities could “see the positives in including LGBTQ+ people in their messaging” while Morris wrote on Twitter, “It’s so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human? Sell your clip-ins and zip it, Insurrection Barbie.”
Brittany responded in an Instagram Story, writing, “Advocating for the genital mutilation of children under the disguise of love and calling it ‘gender affirming care,’ is one of the worst evils. I will always support my children and do what I can do protect their innocence.”
Amid the controversy, Aldean’s public relations firm, the GreenRoom, announced they would no longer be representing the country star.
“Music has always been and remains The GreenRoom’s core focus, so we had to make the difficult decision after 17 years to step away from representing Jason,” Tyne Parrish, co-owner of GreenRoom, said in a statement to Billboard. “We aren’t the best people for the gig anymore, but will always be big fans of his music – he is one of the greatest live entertainers in country music.”
In the wake of being called “Insurrection Barbie” by Morris, Brittany debuted a line of Barbie-inspired T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase “Don’t tread on our kids.” In a post shared to her Instagram Story, she said proceeds from the clothing line will go toward Operation Light Shine, a charity to “help fight child exploitation and human trafficking.”
In 2021, Brittany shared photos on her Instagram showing herself wearing an “Anti Biden Social Club” T-shirt and her children with Aldean, Memphis and Navy, wearing T-shirts that read “Hidin’ from Biden.” (Aldean was not wearing any political clothing in the image.)
After negative reaction to the shirts, Aldean came to his wife’s defense.
“I will never apologize for my beliefs or my love for my family and country,” Aldean wrote in the caption of an Instagram post, featuring him silhouetted against the American flag.
“This is the greatest country in the world and I want to keep it that way,” he added with the hashtag #unapologetic.
Aldean reiterated his comments a month later on Audacy’s “Rob + Holly,” saying he’s not afraid of being canceled.
“I think people know where I stand politically. I’m not a guy that’s just going to go out there and start trying to stir the pot just to stir the pot,” Aldean told the program. “At some point, it’s gotten to where if you’re a conservative and you’re in this business, you’re not allowed to speak.”
“People are going to have their opinion about whatever I say or think or whatever, and that’s completely fine,” he continued. “You don’t have to agree with me. I don’t expect everybody to agree with me, but I also have a voice and opinion just like everybody else.”
The country star voiced his opinion against vaccine mandates for schoolchildren in California by Gov. Gavin Newsom in late 2021, around the same time as his wife’s T-shirt controversy.
According to Taste of Country, after sharing a mask-free photo on his social media and receiving criticism, Aldean responded to one of the comments, writing, “Chill out lady. They are in our pocket. We took them off for 5 seconds to take the pic. Believe me, Disney didn’t give us a ‘free pass’ not to wear them. We had them on all day just like everybody else.”
In 2015, Aldean stirred controversy once again. At the time, The Guardian reported that the “Dirt Road Anthem” singer dressed as rapper Lil Wayne for Halloween in blackface makeup and a wig with dreadlocks.
He spoke out a year later in an interview with Billboard, saying, “In this day and age people are so sensitive that no matter what you do, somebody is going to make a big deal out of it.”
“Me doing that had zero malicious intent. I get that race is a touchy subject, but not everybody is that way. Media tends to make a big deal out of things. If that was disrespectful to anyone, I by all means apologize. That was never my intention. It never crossed my mind.”
