Jason Aldean’s Wife Brittany Claps Back at Critics After ‘Try That in a Small Town’ Tops Hot 100 Chart
Jason Aldean’s wife, Brittany, is clapping back at critics after Jason’s controversial track, “Try That in a Small Town” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Songs chart.
The moment is monumental, not only for Jason but for country music as a whole with country songs Jason at No. 1, Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” at No. 2 and Luke Combs’ “Fast Car” at No. 3 — the first time country hits have taken the Hot 100’s top three spots in a single week since the chart’s inception in August 1958.
Brittany shared the news on Instagram Tuesday, sharing a photo of the singer as well as photos and videos of her hugging and celebrating the accomplishment with their daughters in tow.
“Well, yesterday was a monumental day for @jasonaldean ❤️ #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart!! …A career first🙏🏼 That sure did backfire, didn’t it??,” Brittany wrote, referencing the flack both the song and its music video received. “The best fans EVERRRR❣️❣️❣️❣️.”
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram
The country singer faced a slew of criticism over the track after some found the lyrics to be pro-gun and the imagery in the music video to be offensive following its release last month. Country Music Television also pulled the music video from broadcast.
A portion of the lyrics in the track includes, “Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that s**t might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road / 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.”
Brittany previously took to Instagram to support her husband, sharing a photo alongside the “Big Green Tractor” singer with the caption, “Never apologize for speaking the truth❣️🇺🇸.”
She also took to her Stories to address the “media” and accused outlets of twisting the track to fit their “repulsive narrative.”
“Media.. it’s the same song and dance,” she wrote over a picture of a palm tree. “Twist everything you can to fit your repulsive narrative.”
Brittany added, “How about instead of creating stories, we focus on the real ones such as child trafficking? Food for thought.”
Xem bài viết này trên Instagram
The music video, which was released July 14, was filmed in front of the massive American flag displayed on the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee — the site of the 1927 lynching of Henry Choate.
The music video is interlaced with clips of protestors vandalizing cities in the wake of police brutality and racial unrest during the height of the pandemic.
Jason also sings that “good ol’ boys, raised up right,” taking matters into their own hands by “taking care of our own.”
He took to social media days later to address the controversy, saying, “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. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it — and there is not 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.”
The statement continued, “As many pointed out, I was present at Route 91 where so many lost their lives — and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy. NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart.
“‘Try That In a Small Town,’ for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences. 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.”
The music video’s production company, Tacklebox, confirmed to ET on Tuesday that the location is a “popular filming location outside of Nashville” and cited several music videos and films that have been filmed there-including most recently the Lifetime Original movie Steppin’ into the Holiday with Mario Lopez and Jana Kramer, a music video from Runaway June titled, “We Were Rich,” a Paramount holiday film A Nashville Country Christmas with Tanya Tucker — as well the Hannah Montana film. The production company says, “Any alternative narrative suggesting the music video’s location decision is false.” Tacklebox also noted Jason did not pick the location.
The video was re-edited late last month to remove select imagery of Black Lives Matter protests.
