Jason Aldean addressed the controversy surrounding his latest single "Try That in a Small Town" at a concert last weekend (July 21) at Cincinnati's Riverbend Music Center. The artist took to the stage to briefly address claims that the song's lyrics include references to race and "sundown towns."
"It's been a long-ass week and I've seen a lot of stuff suggesting I'm this, suggesting I'm that," Aldean said from the stage while the crowd booed, according to a fan video. "Here's the thing. I feel like everybody's entitled to their opinion. You can think something all you want to but doesn't mean it's true."
Aldean continued, echoing his original statement about the song's meaning and expressing his dedication to the United States.
"What I am is a proud American [and] I'm proud to be from here," he said. "I love our country. I want to see it restored to what it once was before all this bulls—t started happening to us. I love my country, I love my family and I will do anything to protect that, I can tell you that right now."
His remarks elicited loud cheers from the crowd, and fans at the front of the stage were seen holding up an American flag. The crowd also broke out into cheers of "USA" after Aldean spoke.
"Here's what I want to say: A lot of things out there, one thing I love, you guys know how it is, cancel culture is a thing, it's something where if people don't like what you say, they try and make sure they can cancel you, which means try to ruin your life, ruin everything," Aldean said (quote via Rolling Stone). "One thing I saw this week was a bunch of country music fans that can see through a lot of the bullshit, alright? I saw country music fans rally like I never seen before, and that was pretty badass, I gotta say. Thank you guys so much."
The controversy surrounding the song sparked last week when some social media users pointed out what they interpreted as pro-violence and possibly racially charged lyrics. Some country listeners also took issue with the song's music video filmed in front of the Maury County Courthouse, a location with a sordid racial history involving the 1927 lynching of a Black man.
Aldean addressed these accusations in a statement shared on Tuesday, July 18, saying that the claims made about the song are false. Tacklebox, the production company behind the video, also said Aldean did not pick the location and noted that it's is a frequent filming location.
