Country music star Jason Aldean recently faced backlash over his latest music video for the song “Try That In A Small Town.” The video, which initially aired on Country Music Television, was quickly taken down due to the controversy surrounding its setting and lyrics.
Filmed in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, the video stirred up controversy as it showcased a location with a history of racial violence. The courthouse site was involved in the 1946 Columbia race riot and the 1927 mob lynching of Henry Choate, an 18-year-old Black teenager.
Critics of the video argue that it contains hidden messages and promotes lynching, labeling it a “dog whistle” for racial tension. The video intersperses footage of Aldean’s performance with news clips of violent riots and flag burning, including a Fox News chyron that states “State of emergency declared in Georgia.”
In the midst of the controversy, Aldean defended his intentions in a tweet, highlighting that the lyrics of the song do not make any explicit references to race. He also acknowledged that while music can be open to interpretation, he believes this video crossed a line.
The production company responsible for the video, Tacklebox, released a statement clarifying that the filming location was a popular choice used in various productions. They emphasized that Aldean did not have a say in selecting the location and dismissed any alternative narratives suggesting otherwise.
Despite its removal from Country Music Television, the “Try That In A Small Town” video continues to provoke discussion about artistic representation and the responsibility of artists to be mindful of historical context and societal sensitivities.
# Jason Aldean: A Controversial Figure in Country Music
Jason Aldean, a well-known country singer, has never shied away from expressing his conservative views. In fact, he has been a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump, as he confirmed in a tweet on Tuesday.
Recently, a video featuring Aldean sparked a heated culture war. The video was swiftly removed from CMT, but not before catching the attention of several conservative figures who came to Aldean’s defense. Prominent figures such as Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, and Colorado Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert voiced their support for the singer.
This is not the first time Aldean has found himself embroiled in controversy. In 2015, he drew headlines for his Halloween costume, where he dressed as rapper Lil Wayne and used blackface makeup along with dreadlock wig.
Moreover, Aldean was on stage at the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas during the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history in 2017. Over the years, Aldean has given conflicting statements regarding his stance on U.S. gun laws, despite his music celebrating gun ownership.
Aldean shared his thoughts after the Las Vegas shooting, expressing concerns about the ease of obtaining guns and the speed of background checks. However, he emphasized that he supports responsible gun ownership.
Recently, Aldean took to Twitter to address accusations that his song glorified lynching and that he was unsupportive of the nationwide Black Lives Matter protests. He dismissed these claims as baseless and harmful.
While Aldean’s controversial moments have garnered attention, his contributions to the country music scene cannot be ignored. It remains to be seen how this latest controvery will impact his career.
AP reached out to CMT for comment, but there has been no response as of now.