Country music star Jason Aldean is facing significant backlash over his song “Try That in a Small Town” for allegations that the lyrics and music video promote vigilantism and racial violence. The music video was pulled from Country Music Television (CMT) following the uproar. The video, which was released on Friday, had been airing on CMT before it was removed on Monday. No reason was provided by CMT for the removal.
The controversy surrounding the song had been building since its release in May but intensified after the music video was filmed in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. The courthouse has a dark history as the site of the lynching of a Black man named Henry Chaote in 1927 and the backdrop for the 1946 Columbia race riots. In the video, Aldean performs the song as footage of Black Lives Matter protests is projected onto the courthouse. Critics argue that Aldean is equating protests against police brutality with violent crime by including clips of violent muggings.
Some critics claim that the song’s lyrics encourage violence against protesters and advocates for gun reform. Aldean defended the song, stating that it does not reference race and that all video clips used are real news footage. He explains that the song is about the sense of community he experienced growing up, where neighbors took care of each other regardless of differences.
The song has drawn condemnation from public figures like Sheryl Crow and Tennessee lawmakers. Crow, in a tweet directed at Aldean, expresses her disappointment in the promotion of violence, stating that even small towns are tired of it. Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones condemned the song for its racist violence and called for common-sense gun laws.
Some listeners are puzzled by Aldean’s decision to release a song seemingly glorifying gun violence, considering his own experience with a mass shooting incident. In 2017, Aldean was performing at the Route 91 Music Harvest Festival in Las Vegas when a mass shooting occurred, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries among the crowd. Crow references this incident in her criticism, stating that Aldean should know better as a survivor of gun violence.
Overall, the backlash against Jason Aldean’s song and music video highlights concerns about promoting violence and racial tension.