Jason Aldean’s song “Try That in a Small Town” became one of the biggest talks in country music in 2023. It shot to the top of the charts, but it also started a lot of arguments. Many people loved it, while others said it was bad or even dangerous. This article explains everything in simple words: what the song says, what Jason Aldean meant, the big fight it caused, and how it changed things in music and culture. We look at facts from both sides so you can understand it clearly.
What Is the Song About?
“Try That in a Small Town” is a country song released by Jason Aldean in May 2023. He did not write it — the writers are Kelley Lovelace, Kurt Allison, Neil Thrasher, and Tully Kennedy. The song talks about life in small towns compared to big cities.
The main idea is simple: Some bad behaviors happen in cities, but they would not last long in a small town. People in small towns look out for each other. They protect their own. If someone tries bad things like crime or disrespect, the community will stop it fast.
Here are some key lines from the lyrics:
- It lists things like sucker punching someone, carjacking an old lady, cussing out a cop, spitting in a cop’s face, or stomping on the American flag and burning it.
- The chorus says: “Try that in a small town, see how far ya make it down the road. Around here, we take care of our own.”
- It also mentions having a gun from a granddad and not giving it up.
The song paints small towns as safe places where people have strong values, community, and respect for police and the flag. Big cities, in the song’s view, let these bad things happen more.
Jason Aldean explained his view many times. He said the song is about the feeling he had growing up: Neighbors help each other, no matter their background or beliefs. He feels that sense of community and respect got lost somewhere. He wants to bring it back. In one post, he wrote that it’s not about hate — it’s about people wanting normal days without bad news every day.
The Music Video and Why It Started Big Trouble
The song was out for two months with little noise. Then, on July 14, 2023, the music video came out. That’s when things exploded.
In the video, Jason Aldean sings in front of an old courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. He performs with his band, and there are shots of him walking around the town square.
But the video also shows news clips: People fighting police, protests, robberies, and chaos in cities. Some clips look like Black Lives Matter protests from a few years ago. The video mixes these with calm small-town scenes.
Many people got upset fast. They said:
- The song and video hint at violence against people who protest or break laws.
- Using that courthouse was bad because it was the place of a lynching in 1927 (a violent killing of a Black man by a mob). They called it a “pro-lynching” song.
- It seemed like a message against city people, especially Black people or protesters, and supported guns and vigilante action (people taking law into their own hands).
Critics like singer Sheryl Crow said it was not American. Others called it racist or a dog whistle (a hidden message that some people understand as racist). Some politicians said it pushed white nationalism or gun extremism.
Country Music Television (CMT) stopped playing the video after a few days because of the backlash.
Jason Aldean fought back hard. He said the accusations were wrong and dangerous. He denied it was pro-lynching or racist. He said he was accused of hating Black Lives Matter protests, but that’s not true. He pointed out that people of all colors do bad things, and the song is not about race. Later, the video was edited to remove some protest clips.
Aldean also said he was surprised by the hate. He felt the song just speaks for people who want community and respect back. He thanked fans who supported him.
How People Reacted — Both Sides
The song split people right down the middle. It became a test of politics: left vs. right, city vs. country, or liberal vs. conservative.
People who liked it said:
- It’s just about protecting your home and neighbors.
- Small towns really do have tight communities where crime gets stopped fast.
- It’s a pushback against rising crime and lack of respect for police or the flag.
- Many said the backlash was “cancel culture” trying to silence real feelings.
People who did not like it said:
- The words sound like threats of violence.
- Mixing protests with crime makes it seem like all protests are bad or criminal.
- The old lynching site in the video makes it look like support for old racist violence.
- It divides America more by saying rural people are better than city people.
The fight went big on social media, news, and even in government. Some lawmakers called for it to be condemned.
How the Song Did on Charts — A Huge Success
The controversy made the song even bigger.
Before the video drama, it sold slowly — about 1,000 copies a week. Streams were low too.
After the backlash:
- Sales jumped to 228,000 in one week — the biggest for a country song in over 10 years.
- Streams went up almost 1,000% (from under 1 million to over 11 million).
- The music video got millions more views fast.
The song hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (all music types), then went to No. 1. It was huge on country charts too. Country music even had the top three songs on Hot 100 at one point — a first in history.
This shows how controversy can help a song. Many people bought or streamed it to support Aldean or just to hear what the fuss was about.
The Bigger Cultural Impact
“Try That in a Small Town” became more than a song. It showed deep splits in America:
- Rural vs. Urban Divide — Many feel cities have too much crime and chaos, while small towns feel safe and moral.
- Politics in Music — Country music often talks about guns, flags, police, and small-town pride. This song took it further and got political.
- Free Speech vs. Cancel Culture — Supporters said pulling the video was wrong. Critics said the song was harmful.
- Gun Rights and Self-Defense — The line about not giving up a gun touched on big debates.
- Nostalgia for the Past — Aldean talks about bringing back old values of community and respect.
The song highlighted how music can start big talks about society. It also showed how fast things spread online — one video can change everything.
Years later, people still talk about it. It marked a moment when country music mixed with politics more openly.
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Final Thoughts
“Try That in a Small Town” is about wanting strong communities where people care for each other and stop bad behavior. Jason Aldean says it’s positive — about neighbors helping neighbors. But many saw threats, racism, or division in the words and video.
The truth? The song means different things to different people. Some hear pride in small-town life. Others hear danger. The big fight made it a No. 1 hit and a cultural moment.
About the Author
Mary Correa is a content writer with 9 years of experience. She loves writing about luxury villas and travel. Her articles are easy to read and full of exciting ideas. Mary helps readers discover amazing places to visit and stay. When she’s not writing, she enjoys exploring new destinations.
