Anything the left doesn’t agree with is ‘controversial.’
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
Amidst the growing controversy surrounding his latest single “Try That In A Small Town,” country music star Jason Aldean has received public support from former President Donald Trump.
In a recent Truth Social post, Trump praised Aldean, saying, “Jason Aldean is a fantastic guy who just came out with a great new song. Support Jason all the way. MAGA!!!”
At a critical juncture, as Aldean faces criticism from those who have accused his latest song of promoting vigilantism and gun violence, his endorsement by Trump holds significant weight.
The controversy surrounding “Try That In A Small Town” escalated when Country Music Television (CMT) decided to remove the song’s music video from its platform. The video featured real-life footage of violent riots and crime, combined with the song’s lyrics, and has been widely criticized for its divisive content.
Despite the backlash, Aldean remains undeterred, and his song’s success continues to flourish. Since its release in May, “Try That In A Small Town” has achieved remarkable milestones, topping iTunes’ Top 40 Country chart and gaining airplay on 125 radio stations.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis also defended Aldean on Twitter, asserting that the media backlash suggested Aldean was “doing something right.”
The artist himself has addressed the issue on social media.
“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 was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are not only meritless but dangerous,” Aldean wrote in a tweet.
“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 – and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music – this one goes too far,” he said.
Aldean then alluded to his personal connection with mass violence, recalling his performance during the tragic Route 91 Harvest music festival in 2017. During the event, a man opened fire, claiming the lives of 61 individuals and leaving a profound impact on thousands of people.
“As so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91 – where so many lost their lives – and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy,” he said in a reference to a school shooting in Nashville in March that left six dead.
“NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart. ‘Try That In A Small Town,’ for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences,” he continued.
“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 got 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 said.
“To me, this song summarizes the way a lot of people feel about the world right now. It seems like there are bad things happening on a daily basis, and that feels unfamiliar to a lot of us. This song sheds some light on that.”