Singer Jason Aldean spoke out following claims his new song, “Try That in a Small Town,” is racially charged.
In a viral tweet posted by Aldean to Twitter, he addressed the accusation that his controversial song, which was released in May, is ”pro lynching” and was in reference to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests in 2020.
“These references are not only meritless but dangerous,” the country singer, 46, wrote. “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.”
Aldean stated he was at the country music festival Route 91 “where so many lost their lives” in the mass shooting.
“And our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy. NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart,” he assured.
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
In his post, Aldean explained the inspiration behind his song.
He shared:
“‘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. 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.”
Singer Sheryl Crow responded to Aldean’s statement in a post on her Twitter page.
“[Jason Aldean] I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence,” she wrote.
Crow continued, “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,” she concluded, calling his song “just lame.”
.@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
This came after Country Music Television (CMT) decided to pull the music video for the song from the air. The filming location for the video was filmed in a Tenessee courthouse where a black man was lynched in the 1920s, according to The Hill.
A spokesperson for CMT confirmed to the outlet the video has been removed.
