Jason Aldean took the stage on Friday (July 21) for the first time since the media controversy over his “Try That in a Small Town” song and music video controversy.
Videos by American Songwriter
Aldean and company were in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pacing the stage, the country singer railed against “cancel culture,” saying he’s “seen a lot” this week.
“It’s been a long week,” said the country performer. “I’ve seen a lot of stuff suggesting I’m this, suggesting I’m that. I feel everybody’s entitled to their opinion. You can think something all you want to, but it doesn’t mean it’s true. What I am is a proud American… I love our country. I want to see it restored to what it once was before all this bullshit started happening to us. I love my country. I love my family. And I will do anything to protect that.”
The crowd then cheered “USA! USA!”
Aldean continued, “You guys know how it is this day and age, cancel culture… This day and age, if people don’t like what you say, they try to make sure they can cancel you, which means try to ruin your life. Ruin everything. One thing I saw this week was a bunch of country music fans that can see through a lot of the bullshit. I saw country music fans rally like I’ve never seen before and it was pretty badass, I gotta say. Thank you guys so much.”
This past week, Aldean has faced a lot of online and media criticism about the song and video, which many believe espouses violence, calling the song and video racist, though there is no overt language about race in the song lyrics. Aldean has said he grew up being taught that one is supposed to protect their family and neighbors.
Others, too, have been embroiled in the online controversy, including Jason Isbell and Jake Owen. Sheryl Crow tossed her hat in, offering public criticism of Aldean, too. Travis Tritt on the other hand, showed support for his country music peer.
“I know a lot of you guys grew up like I did,” added Aldean at the concert. “You kind of have the same values, the same principles that I have, which is we want to take our kids to a movie and not worry about some asshole coming in there shooting up the theater. So somebody asked me, ‘Hey man, you think you’re going to play this song tonight?’ The answer was simple. The people have spoken and you guys spoke very, very loudly this week.”
The video causes such a stir online that CMT pulled it from its channels. In the wake of the initial criticism, Aldean released a public statement, saying, “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. 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.”
See the Cincinnati clip below.
Photo by Terry Wyatt/WireImage
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