Country music singer Jason Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town" reached number one on the U.S. iTunes chart after Country Music TV pulled the song's music video from the channel.
"Jason Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town" has reached #1 on US iTunes," Billboard Charts tweeted on Wednesday.
The song, which was released in May, saw its music video drop this past weekend, prompting widespread criticism from many on social media for its lyrics and where Aldean shot the video.
"Cuss out a cop, spit in his face. Stomp on the flag and light it up. Yeah, ya think you're tough," Aldean sings. "Well, try that in a small town. See how far ya make it down the road. Around here, we take care of our own. You cross that line, it won't take long. For you to find out, I recommend you don't."
Other lyrics include: "got a gun that my granddad gave me. They say one day they're gonna round up / Well, that s*** might fly in the city, good luck."
The music video sparked criticism from many for being filmed outside of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where a white mob killed Henry Choate, a Black man, in 1927. The music video also shows riots and protests in different parts of the country.
On Tuesday, Billboard first reported that Country Music TV (CMT) decided to pull the music video from its airways. A spokesperson for CMT confirmed to Newsweek that the music video is no longer on rotation on the channel but did not offer any further information as to why the decision was made.
Some Twitter users criticized the lyrics of the song, such as user Leigh Love, who wrote, "Jason Aldean's new song, 'Try That In A Small Town' is not only reminding people that sun down towns exists, but that he loves them. Don't even listen or watch to give him the views, but read the very scary lyrics. It's like he forgot about the January 6 insurrection."
Aldean responded to some criticism in a tweet on Tuesday, writing, "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 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 wrote.
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.…
— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 18, 2023
Newsweek reached out to Aldean's team via email for comment.
Aldean also wrote about performing in 2017 at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, where nearly 60 people were killed and hundreds more were injured during a mass shooting.
"As so 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."
Months after the mass shooting in Las Vegas, Aldean questioned the thoroughness of background checks, but said that he typically avoided talking about gun control as it was a "no-win situation."
Aldean spoke about gun violence in the United States during an interview with the Associated Press in 2018, following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed and 17 others injured.
"Unless anybody has witnessed anything like that or been a part of it, it's really hard for people to really understand where you're coming from on that stuff," Aldean said. "I think no matter what you say, whether you're for gun control or not, I mean, you're setting yourself up to be crucified in the public eye or in the media."
Update 07/19/23, 11:10 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
