Country singer Jason Aldean faces significant backlash over his song “Try That in a Small Town,” accused of being racist and “pro-lynching.” The music video was removed by CMT following criticism, prompting Aldean to defend himself on social media.

Aldean responded to the accusations, stating, “In the past 24 hours, I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song… and was subject to the comparison that I… was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests.” He labeled these claims as “not only meritless but dangerous.”

The controversial music video, shot at the Maury County Courthouse in Tennessee, drew attention to historical events. The location, where an African-American man named Henry Choate was lynched in the 1920s, sparked controversy. Aldean vehemently denies any racial intent, asserting that the song reflects the “feeling of a community” from his upbringing.

Critics on social media and Variety labeled the song as “the most contemptible country song of the decade.” Aldean’s defense emphasizes the absence of racial references in the lyrics and the use of real news footage in the video.

Addressing his political views, Aldean clarified that the song aims to express the desire for normalcy amid divisive headlines. This controversy is not the singer’s first; he faced criticism in 2021 when dropped by his publicity firm due to transphobic comments made by his wife, Brittany Aldean.

Amidst the backlash, Aldean continues his Highway Desperado tour, though he faced a setback after being hospitalized for heatstroke on the second day. The concert venue released a statement announcing the rescheduling of the affected performance.