Country superstar Jason Aldean has faced a storm of controversy since the release of his music video for "Try That in a Small Town," a track from his forthcoming eleventh studio album. The video has stirred debate over its visuals and was subsequently removed from CMT.
Initially released in May, the lead single rapidly caught fire for its powerful lyrics, which some critics misconstrued as promoting violence and racism. They zeroed in on lines like "Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they're gonna round up / Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck. Try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road / Around here, we take care of our own."
The song and its music video, released on July 14, became a hot topic in media discussions. The video, directed by Shaun Silva, features Aldean performing in front of Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, which happened to be the site of the tragic lynching of Henry Choate in 1927. It also incorporated visuals of riots and vandalism from the 2020 racial injustice protests.
According to the production company, TackleBox, the choice of location was due to its popularity in the film industry, having been used in several movies and music videos. They insisted that Aldean wasn't involved in choosing the filming site and that its history had no connection to the video's theme.
As the controversy gathered, Aldean took to social media to share his perspective. He dismissed the allegations of endorsing lynching as dangerous and meritless, stressing that the song neither references race nor contains footage that wasn't real news. He emphasized his desire for the song to represent the tight-knit communities he experienced growing up, where neighbors looked out for each other regardless of differences.
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| Jason Aldean File Photo |
Despite the mounting criticism, Aldean's "Try That in a Small Town" has succeeded considerably. It hit No. 1 on the Hot Country Songs chart and No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Moreover, the song recorded the highest week of sales for a country song in over a decade, according to Billboard.
Following the release, CMT removed the music video from its network. The song continues to enjoy popularity on YouTube, garnering over 18 million views as of July 25.
The controversy has also elicited mixed reactions from the country music community. Leftist Sheryl Crow, a vocal advocate for stricter gun control measures, criticized the track's perceived promotion of violence. Meanwhile, Brittany Kerr Aldean, Jason's wife, and singer Blanco Brown rallied behind him, with Brown insisting on Aldean's non-racist character despite his objections to the song's lyrics.
Reports surfaced that artists like Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, and Hank Williams Jr. pulled their music videos from CMT in solidarity with Aldean. However, these reports were debunked by a CMT representative.
Finally, producers reportedly removed archival footage of Black Lives Matter rioters from the video after Fox threatened legal action. The footage depicted BLM protesters during the 2020 protests, intensifying the narrative of Aldean's song. Critics have argued that the song depicts the surge in crime in major cities rather than condoning violence or racism.
Unbowed, Aldean continues to perform his hit single to appreciative audiences, refusing to capitulate to the outcry. He insists on the song's true meaning: a call for unity and a return to a sense of community, underlining that the song is not about race or promoting violence.
This controversy underscores the high-stakes battle over culture and interpretation within the music industry and the broader society. Jason Aldean stands firm on his music and values, reminding us all that country music is about more than just catchy tunes – it's about real people, real issues, and a strong sense of community.