Jason Aldean’s Try That In A Small Town controversy explained as internet users question where the country singer is from originally.
WARNING: Content of a disturbing nature ahead
It’s been a hectic week in the world of country music, after one of the genre’s biggest stars found himself in hot water when he was called out online over the optics of his latest music video. Over a week after the video was first released, the controversy continues to develop, though not everybody is fully caught up on the Try That In A Small Town drama, so here’s what you need to know.
Jason Aldean’s Try That In A Small Town controversy explained
Jason Aldean is a multi-platinum-selling artist who has spent the last 20+ years establishing himself as one of the most prominent, outspoken voices in the country music world. Aldean regularly uses his music to promote his beliefs, and he is no stranger to letting people know what he thinks in his lyrics. In May this year, the country star released his latest single, Try That In A Small Town – a defiant ballad that warned people of the dangers of carrying out illicit or violent behavior in rural communities.
Two months after the song’s release, Aldean unleashed the official music video for the track, in which he could be seen shredding his guitar in front of a relatively grandeur white building. The controversy began after it was pointed out online that the building Aldean was standing in front of is the Maury Count Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, and in the backdrop of the singer’s video was the exact location where a black teenager was lynched back in 1927.
The video also contained footage of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, and the singer promptly faced widespread criticism on social media, with some users suggesting that the song felt like a threat to anyone who may attempt to carry out similar protest in towns like Columbia. Aldean strongly denied such accusations, stressing that the claim he had made a “pro-lynching song” was “not only meritless, but dangerous.”
Where is Jason Aldean from?
Having watched the Try That In A Small Town video, it would make sense to assume that Aldean originates from the city of Columbia where the filming took place.
This is not the case though, as Aldean is actually from Macon, Georgia originally.
Aldean was born and grew up in Macon, though spent his summers visiting his father in Homestead, Florida, before moving to Nashville, Tennessee later in life in order to pursue his music career.
Aldean’s presence has clearly been felt in Columbia, to the point where the city’s mayor felt the need to stress that he “Respect(s) the artist’s freedom of his own lyrics and the fans who support him (Aldean), but I’m hopeful that the next music video that uses our historic downtown as a backdrop will seek a more positive message.”
Aldean addresses controversy
Within a day of the viral kickback on Try That In A Small Town, Aldean was quick to take to Twitter to clarify the intentions behind the record.
“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”, Aldean told his 3.8 million followers. “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
At the time fo writing on July 21, the music video is closing in on 10 million views and, despite the outrage, it would appear it’s not going anywhere for the time being.
