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CMT Removes Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” Music Video
CMT Removes Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” Music Video,Country Music Television (CMT) removed Jason Aldean’s music video for “Try That in a Small Town” after its lyrics and images were accused of being “pro-lynching.” Aldean responds and defends himself against the accusations.

CMT Removes Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” Music Video

Just days after airing Jason Aldean’s new music video for “Try That in a Small Town,” CMT has removed the video amid accusations of pro-lynching lyrics and images in the track, Vulture confirms. The country singer defended the video in a statement on Twitter, calling the allegations “meritless” and “dangerous.” He writes, “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.” Aldean’s music video features news footage projected on the Maury County courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee; the location was the site of a 1920s lynching. Vulture has reached out to Jason Aldean’s representation for comment.

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.…

— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 18, 2023

Outside of the contents of the music video, some cited issues with specific lyrics, like the chorus of the song, which reads, “Well, try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road / Around here, we take care of our own / You cross that line, it won’t take long / For you to find out, I recommend you don’t / Try that in a small town.” Aldean stated that the lyrics of the song reflected the “feeling of a community” he had growing up. Singer Sheryl Crow called out Aldean’s lyrics on Twitter, stating that people from small towns are also “sick of violence.” She writes, “There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting,” referencing the Las Vegas shooting in 2017.

.@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.This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame https://t.co/cuOtUO9xjr

— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) July 19, 2023

In his statement, Aldean referenced his pattern of being outspoken about his political beliefs — last year, his publicity team reportedly walked out after Aldean supported transphobic comments from his wife that grew into a feud with Maren Morris. His statement concluded with: “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 go 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.”

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