Jason Aldean Concert Thursday In Howard Columbia Following Backlash Over New Song

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Despite the hubbub surrounding country music superstar Jason Aldean's newest release "Try That in a Small Town," Aldean will be performing Thursday at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia.

Aldean, 46, released the single in May followed by a July 14 music video that features footage from Black Lives Matter protests and clips from violent protests outside the United States. In the video, which received 17 million views on YouTube, Aldean sings in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Tennessee, where Henry Choate, a Black teenager, was lynched in 1927, reports The Baltimore Sun.

Backlash over the song’s video and lyrics prompted Country Music Television to stop airing the video. Aldean addressed his critics and CMT’s decision at a recent concert in Cincinnati. He described the controversy as an example of “cancel culture” and defended his lyrics as an expression of patriotism and love for communities similar to his Georgia hometown, The Baltimore Sun noted.

“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 [Black Lives Matter] protests,” Aldean said in a tweet Tuesday. “These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. While I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music – this one goes too far."

Read more at The Baltimore Sun