Cassadee Pope Tells ‘Problematic’ Jason Aldean to ‘Self-Reflect’ Amid ‘Try That in a Small Town’ Drama

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Reading between the lines of country superstar Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” has mostly been up to media commentators and social media participants so far, but one country/Americana singer has taken up the duty of writing a satirical number that spells out some of what Aldean’s critics believe are undertones implicit highly contentious hit. A criticism that has come Aldean’s way has been that the ominous language of “Try That in a Small Town” echoes the coded or uncoded threats that have historically been associated with the South’s “sundown towns” — places where, in the most dangerous eras of segregation, people of color and other outsiders were advised to get out of before dark. Now the singer known as Adeem the Artist has made that interpretation of Aldean’s “See how far ya get down the road” lyrics explicit with a parody song posted on social media called “Sundown Town.” (Hear the song embedded in the artist’s tweet, below.)

Jason Aldean’s wife Brittany is standing by her husband’s side.  After Aldean’s new single, "Try That In A Small Town," sparked backlash, Brittany reacted on her social media and thanked fans for their support. "Man do we love y’all. Free thinkers, lions not sheep… thankful for the support, always!" she wrote on her Instagram Wednesday.

Jason Aldean’s new music video has a surprising Canadian connection.

The View’s hosts aren’t holding back as they join in on the discourse about Jason Aldean’s new controversial song, “Try That in a Small Town.”

Rising country star Parker McCollum is defending Jason Aldean and Miranda Lambert in the wake of their respective music controversies.

accused of promoting violence with his latest song “Try That in a Small Town,” which includes the inflammatory lyrics: “Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that s–t might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town.”Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action, brought attention to the lyrics in a tweet posted Sunday night, in which she said the song is “about how [Aldean] and his friends will shoot you if you try to take their guns.”Watts also pointed out that Aldean “was on-stage during the mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert in 2017 that killed 60 people and wounded over 400 more.”The music video for “Try That in a Small Town” — which sees Aldean performing in front of a courthouse known for lynchings — was pulled from CMT programming following the backlash..@Jason_Aldean – who was on-stage during the mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert in 2017 that killed 60 people and wounded over 400 more – has recorded a song called “Try That In A Small Town” about how he and his friends will shoot you if you try to take their guns. pic.twitter.com/hWGdEgS33vThe video was released on Friday, July 14, and played on CMT through the morning music video hours on Sunday, July 16, according to Billboard.While Watts’ tweet came later that same Sunday, the news of the removal broke on Tuesday, and upon hearing about it, she tweeted: “Proud to have had a hand in getting CMT to reject this racist and violent song.”Despite the video being pulled from CMT, ABC still decided to air a pre-taped performance of Aldean’s song as part of its CMA Fest concert special Wednesday.

Aldean denied the song “Try That in a Small Town” has any racist intentions or undertones. The tune describes how rural America will not accept the same riotous behavior and criminality that has besieged many urban areas since 2020.“These references are not only meritless but dangerous,” Aldean said, after criticism of his use of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tenn., as a backdrop. A white mob hanged Henry Choate there in 1927, according to one media critic of the music video, Ashton Pittman of the Mississippi Free Press.Aldean notably stood firm when he was harshly criticized from the left after his wife posted photos of their children in anti-President Biden attire in 2021.On “Jesse Watters Primetime,” Boone said country music has fallen in stature as of late.“I can’t believe it’s country music,” he said.

Jason Aldean may be receiving widespread hate for his controversial "Try That In A Small Town" video, but he has garnered the support of one fellow country musician – who advised Aldean not to listen to the noise. Travis Tritt took to Twitter Wednesday evening to offer his remarks on the backlash Aldean has received, writing, "I would like to remind my friend @Jason_Aldean that Twitter and social media in general is not a real place.The views shared by many accounts on this platform are not actually representative of the vast majority of the population of this country." Aldean's video has been labeled by some as dangerous, racist and pro-lynching. "Say what you want to say and be who you want to be.

Jason Aldean is tackling his latest controversy with his wife, Brittany, by his side. Aldean’s new single, "Try That in a Small Town," has sparked backlash for its perceived racist content and had its music video pulled from Country Music Television (CMT).

“racist” and “pro-lynching.”Aldean, an outspoken conservative, performed the set on June 10 at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium in honor of the Country Music Association’s 50th anniversary. Hosted by Dierks Bentley, Elle King, and Lainey Wilson, Wednesday’s CMA Fest broadcast also featured performances by Miranda Lambert, Tim McGraw, Eric Church, and Luke Combs.But none was more divisive than Aldean’s concert, which aired one day after he called the accusations that he “released a pro-lynching song … not only meritless, but dangerous.”“Oh no CMA fest gonna get cancelled for playing this Jason aldean song,” one person tweeted Wednesday.“Honestly CMA fest allowing disgusting @Jason_Aldean to still perform is g r o s s,” another wrote.

Jason Aldean‘s performance of his controversial song will be televised.

Jason Aldean's performance of his controversial song will be televised.ET has learned that the CMA Fest special, which will air Wednesday on ABC, will feature the 46-year-old singer's June performance of «Try That in a Small Town.» It will not, however, feature any footage from the song's music video.Aldean's performance was recorded during CMA Fest, which took place in Nashville last month, before the July 14 release of his music video.TMZ was first to report the news.Controversy around the song began swirling with the release of Aldean's music video, with some critics describing the tune as tone-deaf and divisive, and calling it out for its pro-gun lyrics.The music video, which was shot at the Maury County Courthouse, the site of the 1927 lynching of Henry Choate, also caught heat for including clips of protestors vandalizing cities in the wake of police brutality and racial unrest during the height of the pandemic.One of the most vocal critics was Sheryl Crow, who tweeted of the video, «I'm from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence.

Jason Aldean isfacing significant backlash after the music video for his song "Try That in a Small Town" was released last Friday — and now the production company behind the project is defending its controversial filming location. The 46-year-old country star's detractors have slammed the song's lyrics, which some perceived as having racial undertones and promoting a "pro-lynching" message, but the singer has strongly denied the claims.

controversial song “Try That in a Small Town.” Aldean’s headline-making hit occupies the No. 1 spot on iTunes’ Top Songs and Music Videos charts as of Wednesday evening — despite accusations it’s racist and “pro-lynching.”The song, which was released May 19, has over 3.8 million Spotify streams.

Jason Aldean is continuing to receive backlash for his new song and music video, this time from Sheryl Crow.

Sheryl Crow is not feeling Jason Aldean‘s new single Try That In A Small Town.

Jason Aldean has lost the support of Country Music Television (CMT), with the network confirming to Fox News Digital it has pulled the musician's "Try That in a Small Town" music video from circulation. A representative for the network did not provide more context for the decision, but Aldean has received immense backlash from the public, with some suggesting it is a "pro-lynching song" — a narrative Aldean adamantly denies. In the video, Aldean's lyrics are sung while news coverage from the 2020 riots illustrates his message.

Prominent gun-control activist Shannon Watts is trying to get country music star Jason Aldean canceled over a song she claims is "racist and violent."  Aldean denies that his song, "Try That In A Small Town," has racial undertones following its music video release last week, in which he touts how small towns wouldn't put up with the kind of lawlessness found in big cities. Country Music Television (CMT) yanked the video without comment on Monday, prompting Aldean to lash out on Twitter, writing, "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." Watts first called attention to the song’s lyrics in a late-night tweet Sunday, saying it’s about "how he and his friends will shoot you if you try to take their guns."  Watts later took credit for CMT’s decision in scrubbing the video.

Jason Aldean has made headlines for his controversial behavior just as often as he’s released music.

accused of promoting violence with his latest song, which includes the inflammatory lyrics: “Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that s – – t might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town.”As a small-town girl herself, Missouri native Crow, 61, called out the country singer for putting out false impressions.“@Jason_Aldean I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence.

Sheryl Crow is sounding off.