Jason Aldean’s latest music video has caused controversy, with fans and fellow country artists weighing in. Now, the mayor of the town where the video was filmed is weighing in.
Shot in Columbia, Tennessee, the video for “Try That In A Small Town” is Aldean’s celebration of the sort of small community he grew up in. But critics have called out what they see as the glorification of vigilantism in the song, while others have pointed out that the courthouse featured in the video was the site of the 1927 lynching of 18-year-old Henry Choate.
“Like many small towns across America, Columbia, Tennessee is focused on bringing people together,” Mayor Chaz Molder told FOX 17 News on Wednesday. “I hadn’t listened to the song prior to today, but I’ve now seen the video. I respect the artist’s freedom of his own lyrics and the fans who support him, but I’m hopeful that the next music video that uses our historic downtown as a backdrop will seek a more positive message.”
Singer Sheryl Crow was among those who criticized the song’s violent lyrics, even pointing out that Aldean himself had survived a mass shooting event, and arguing that Americans are “sick of violence.”
This isn’t the first time Aldean has been the center of controversy. In 2015 he made headlines after dressing up in blackface for Halloween. The singer has responded to his latest critics via Twitter.
“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 said in a tweet.
