


The new country song "Try That In A Small Town" is driving a heated debate among entertainers and political figures across the country.
Country star Jason Aldean's latest song and music video highlights mass violence, carjackings, rioting, arson, theft, physical assaults, and clashes with police happening in big cities, while also suggesting that a "small town" would not allow those activities.
Variety described the song as "close to being the most cynical song ever written about the implicit moral superiority of having a limited number of neighbors."
Singer Sheryl Crow, who grew up in a small town in Missouri, weighed in on the song.
“@Jason_Aldean I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence,” she said in a tweet directed at Aldean while responding to a tweet by gun control advocate Shannon Watts.
.@Jason_Aldean I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence.There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting.
— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) July 19, 2023
This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame https://t.co/cuOtUO9xjr
She added, “There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting. This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame.”
Gov. Kristi Noem (R-SD), who grew up in a rural town in South Dakota, responded in a social media video.
"I am shocked by the people in this country attempting to cancel this song and cancel Jason, and his beliefs," Noem said.
My thoughts on “Try that in a Small Town”…. @Jason_Aldean pic.twitter.com/umJ8qFvy2o
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) July 19, 2023
The governor added that the Aldeans are being "persecuted" and shared her support for the song, inviting him to perform the song on the governor's residence front lawn.
Star Trek actor LeVar Burton posted a tweet Wednesday morning wishing everyone a "good morning" except Jason Aldean.
Good morning, y’all… to everyone except @Jason_Aldean!
— LeVar Burton (@levarburton) July 18, 2023
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy defended the song as being about the values that everyone shares in America
"Jason Aldean writes a song defending the values that ALL Americans used to share — faith, family, hard work, patriotism — only to be immediately sacrificed at the altar of censorship and cancellation," the presidential hopeful said.
Jason Aldean writes a song defending the values that ALL Americans used to share - faith, family, hard work, patriotism - only to be immediately sacrificed at the altar of censorship & cancellation. These are the same people who cheer songs like “Cop Killer” & the glorification… pic.twitter.com/WJ5s3MOI4p
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) July 19, 2023
Donald Trump Jr., the son of the former president, asked, "How on Earth is this video controversial?"
How on earth is this video controversial? Why would @cmt take it down? Support @Jason_Aldean and other artists who have the guts to tell the truth… watch it, download it, and push back against the bs. pic.twitter.com/59YaeHRM5d
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) July 19, 2023
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Country Music Television recently pulled the video from its network. Aldean responded to CMT and other critics on social media.
"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," the singer tweeted.