Jason Aldean released his song "Try That In A Small Town" in May 2023, the lead single of his eleventh album. At the time the song did not receive any backlash or any negative comment about its theme and lyrics.
However, when he released the "Try That In A Small Town" music video last week, that's when things got heated.
CMT Removes Jason Aldean 'Try That In A Small Town' Music Video
In a Variety report, Country Music Television (CMT) confirmed that the "Try That In A Small Town" music video has been removed from its rotation from the platform even before the music video received further backlash.
A spokesperson from the network did not provide any comment as to why the video was removed. The same goes for BBR Music Group, Jason Aldean's music label. Billboard initially reported that the video was being removed by the network.
Jason Aldean 'Try That In A Small Town' Music Video Meaning
According to many, the "Try That In A Small Town" music video and even the song itself held quite the suggestive lyrical meaning that it was about lynching or it is pro-lynching.
Notably, Aldean shot the music video in front of a courthouse in Colombia, Tennessee, which was well known for being the site of a horrific lynching incident in the 1920s. It was where a Black man at the time was lynched. Many people have pointed out that the imagery and the thematic meaning of the song were racially charged.
The lyrics of the song were also suggestive of how violent the culture that Aldean was trying to sing about or celebrate.
"Got a gun that my granddad gave me. They say one day they're gonna round up. Well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck," he sang.
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Jason Aldean Addressed The Hate on Try That In A Small Town' Music Video
In a Tweet, Aldean had to say this about the backlash that his song has received.
"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," Aldean said in a tweet.
According to Aldean, the song referred to the "feeling of a community" that he had grown up with where they took care of each other regardless of their backgrounds or beliefs.
"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," he added.
