Sheryl Crow Calls Out Jason Aldean for “Promoting Violence” in New Song “Try That in a Small Town”
In a recent tweet, singer Sheryl Crow called out fellow musician Jason Aldean for promoting violence in his song “Try That in a Small Town.” Crow, who hails from a small town herself, expressed her disappointment and urged Aldean to reconsider the message he is sending.
“Jason Aldean, I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence,” Crow tweeted. “There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting.”
Crow further emphasized her point by quoting a tweet that mentioned Aldean’s experience during the mass shooting in Las Vegas back in 2017. The shooter killed 60 people and injured over 400 concertgoers at the music festival where Aldean was performing.
Aldean’s music video for “Try That in a Small Town” has faced significant backlash, leading CMT to remove it from their programming. The video features Aldean performing in front of a courthouse known for lynchings, sparking further controversy.
The lyrics of the song include lines such as “Cuss out a cop, spit in his face, stomp on the flag and light it up,” and “got a gun that my granddad gave me, they say one day they’re gonna round up, well, that shit might fly in the city, good luck.” Many have interpreted these lyrics as inciting pro-lynching sentiments.
In response to the criticism, Aldean defended his song on Twitter, stating that there is “not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it.” He also clarified that the video includes real news footage and that he can respect others’ interpretations of music, but believes this particular criticism goes too far.
Aldean explained that the song is meant to reflect the sense of community he experienced growing up, where neighbors took care of each other despite their differences. He insisted that the song’s intention is to celebrate unity and support, rather than promoting violence.
The controversy surrounding Aldean’s song highlights the ongoing debate about the influence musicians have over their audience and the responsibility they have in promoting positive messages. As the conversation continues, it remains to be seen how Aldean will respond to the criticism and whether he will make any changes to the song or its accompanying video.