Following media outrage, CMT pulls Jason Aldean’s controversial music video “Try That In A Small Town” from its network. The release via Broken Bow Records/BMG was in rotation on CMT from Friday (July 14) through Sunday (July 16.)
For the singer, the song refers “to the feeling of a community that I had growing up.” The lyrics reflect how city crime won’t fly in a small town’s tight-knit community. However, its lyrical portrayal within the “Try That In A Small Town” video pushes the already-risqué lyrics towards a pro-gun and pro-violence stance. “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 sings.
“Carjack an old lady at a red light / Pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store / Ya think it’s cool, well, act a fool if ya like / Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light it up.”
Lyrics of “Try That In A Small Town” by Jason Aldean
Aldean’s visuals juxtapose ideal cookie-cutter small towns with splices of protest images, fires, crimes and burning flags. In addition, the music video was filmed at Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, a historic lynching site and scene of the infamous Columbia Race Riot of 1946.
Following CMT’s decision on Tuesday, Aldean took to social media to defend the song. “These references are not only meritless, but dangerous,” he said. “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
Fellow musicians like Jason Isbell, Margo Price and LeVar Burton called out Aldean. Sheryl Crow took her anger to Twitter, saying, “I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence. There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting. This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame.” The singer refers to the Route 91 Harvest Festival in 2017 when a gunman began firing upon the crowd with Aldean on stage, totaling over 60 deaths.
.@Jason_Aldean I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence.There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting.
— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) July 19, 2023
This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame https://t.co/cuOtUO9xjr
During the beginning stretch of his amphitheater tour, Aldean succumbed to a heat stroke at his July 15 show. He will be back touring on July 20.
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