At this point in time, we are probably all aware of the controversy that surrounded Jason Aldean’s latest single, “Try That In A Small Town.”
The track, which Jason says refers to as a “feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief, sure ruffled some feathers on its climb to becoming his first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100.
The music video was also pulled from CMT after news broke that it was shot at the Maury County Courthouse in Tennessee, where a lynching took place almost 100 years ago in 1927. If we are being fully transparent, the courthouse was also used as a shooting spot for many other projects, including for the Hannah Montana movie in 2009.
Shortly after the video was pulled from rotation, Jason released a statement to social media saying this:
“In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests.“
“These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.”
In the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous.…
— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 18, 2023
Just two weeks ago, the 46 year old singer co-hosted Country Countdown USA with Lon Helton and opened up a little more about his feelings towards the backlash and where he stands with freely speaking his mind:
“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…I think that may have rubbed people the wrong way.”
He then goes on to say:
“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.”
Well, in a brand new interview posted earlier this morning, Aldean sat down with CBS News’ Jan Crawford ahead of the release of his eleventh studio album, “Highway Desperado,” to discuss the criticism the song has drawn over the last few months.
“The whole idea behind the video was to show the lawlessness and disrespect for cops and just trashing cities…I’m just not cool with that.“
He then continued…
“I feel like the narrative really got switched over and became more of a racial type thing that’s like if that’s what you got out of the song and the video, I almost kind of feel like that’s on you because that wasn’t our intention.”
When asked what his reaction was to some of the public saying the song had racist undertones with a video that was threatening for black people, Aldean had this to say:
“There was people of all colors doing stuff in the video…that’s what I don’t understand.
There was white people in there, there was black people. I mean, this video did not shine a light on one specific group and say, ‘that’s the problem.’
So anybody who saw that in the video, then you weren’t looking hard enough in the video is all I can tell ya.”
Watch the full interview here: