Jason Aldean Performs at CMTs a Year After Ban: What Caused the Network's Action?

Jason Aldean made his return to the CMTs last night, a year after he was banned from the network.

The country singer appeared on Sunday's broadcast to perform "Let Your Boys Be Country," which was also nominated for video of the year. While Aldean lost the award to Jelly Roll, he was still seemingly welcomed back onto the network with open arms. So what helped him score the invite after their previous clampdown?

In 2023, Aldean caught serious heat for his "Try That In a Small Town" single and music video. Meant as a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, the visual was filmed in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. Nearly a century before the song was released, the location is known for being where Henry Choate was lynched by an angry mob.

Choate, an 18-year-old Black man, was accused of assaulting a 16-year-old girl. After she was unable to identify him as her attacker, he maintained that he was innocent. However, an angry mob murdered him by hanging him from the second floor of the courthouse.

Aldean's music video featured footage of anti-police brutality protests and American flags being burned, over his lyrics "Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they're gonna round up / Well, that s- might fly in the city, good luck."

Following the music video's release, CMT pulled the visual four days after its release when backlash ensued. Now, a year later, all seems to be forgiven as Aldean took the stage once again.

The televised CMTs performance drew polarizing reactions from the audience, with one fan taking to social media to question why he "gets rewarded and praised for a song glorifying racism and violence."

"I didn't like #jasonaldean before and now that he appears on #CMTAwards I like him less," another viewer posted on X. "Dude, they banned you and called you racist."

Another user questioned why he was allowed to return to the network, saying: "Ironic @Jason_Aldean performs despite the @CMT network banned a controversial video of his."

Kelsea Ballerini, who hosted the broadcast, has previously condemned the country music industry for its divisiveness. While she states that she hopes to expand the voices amplified throughout the genre, "one person" cannot speak for the industry as a whole.

"I am in control of standing in what I believe in - and being a kind, good person who works towards making the world a more heard, safe, and inclusive place in whatever capacity I can do," she told People last year.

"Try That In A Small Town" was also slammed by artists like Sheryl Crowe and Margo Price, while an endorsement from former president Donald Trump helped it land at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, the strongest chart performance of Aldean's career.

Jelly Roll swept the awards last night, taking home CMT Performance of the Year, Male Video of the Year, and Video of the Year. Other winners included Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay, Lainey Wilson, and more.