Country star Jason Aldean is receiving significant backlash for his song “Try That in a Small Town,” with accusations that both the lyrics and the recently released music video encourage vigilantism and racial violence. Country Music Television (CMT) has pulled the controversial music video off the air after it sparked uproar. According to Billboard, which was the first to report the news, the video had been playing on CMT’s rotation over the weekend before its removal on Monday. CMT has not provided a comment regarding the reason behind the music video’s removal.
While there had been growing controversy surrounding “Try That in a Small Town” since its release in May, the backlash reached new heights after Aldean filmed the music video in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. This courthouse holds historical significance as it was the site of the 1927 lynching of a Black man named Henry Chaote and also played a part in the 1946 Columbia race riots. In the video, Aldean sang his song while news footage of Black Lives Matter protests were projected onto the courthouse. Aldean also included clips of violent muggings, leading some critics to argue that he was equating protests against police brutality with violent crime.
Critics have labeled the song a “modern lynching song” and argue that the lyrics promote violence against protesters and advocates for gun reform. Some of the lyrics in question are: “Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up / Yeah, ya think you’re tough. Well, try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road / Around here, we take care of our own / You cross that line, it won’t take long / For you to find out, I recommend you don’t / Try that in a small town. Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that s–t might fly in the city, good luck.”
Aldean has defended the song, which was written by Kelly Lovelace, Neil Thrasher, Tully Kennedy, and Kurt Michael Allison, in a tweet. He contends that the accusations of the song promoting lynching and his alleged displeasure with the Black Lives Matter protests are baseless and dangerous. According to Aldean, there is not a single reference to race in the song’s lyrics and the video consists solely of real news footage.
The singer explains that the song is actually about the feeling of community he experienced while growing up and emphasizes the importance of taking care of neighbors, regardless of their background or beliefs. Aldean himself hails from Macon, Georgia, a mid-size city with a population of 150,000.
The song has attracted criticism from various politicians and celebrities, including Sheryl Crow and Tennessee lawmakers. Crow took to Twitter to express her disappointment, stating that even people from small towns are tired of violence. She believes that promoting violence is not representative of small-town America and calls Aldean out personally, mentioning his experience as a survivor of a mass shooting during the Route 91 Music Harvest Festival in Las Vegas in 2017.
Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones also condemned Aldean’s song in a tweet, describing it as heinous and calling for common-sense gun laws that protect all children and communities.
There has been confusion among listeners as to why Aldean would release a song seemingly glorifying gun violence, given his history with mass shootings. His involvement in the tragic 2017 Las Vegas shooting, where 58 people were killed and hundreds injured, has led some to question his choice. Crow references this incident and suggests that Aldean, as a survivor of gun violence, should have better judgment.
In summary, Jason Aldean’s song “Try That in a Small Town” has faced significant backlash due to allegations of promoting vigilantism and racial violence. The music video has been removed from Country Music Television (CMT), and critics argue that the lyrics and visuals equate protests against police brutality with violent crime. Aldean defends the song, claiming that the accusations against it are baseless and dangerous. However, celebrities and lawmakers have joined in condemning the song, highlighting Aldean’s experience as a survivor of a mass shooting and calling for common-sense gun laws.
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