Country star Jason Aldean just came out with a song that has skyrocketed to the top of the charts for songs and music videos, “Try That In A Small Town.” As the song is anti-crime and anti-rioting while also insinuating that Americans in small towns would stand up to violent crime with vigilante justice, or at last proactive and strong law enforcement, the left hated it.
CMT canceled the music video despite it performing extremely well. Woke entertainer Sheryl Crow went on the warpath against Aldean. The predictable accusations of “racism” were hurled at Aldean. But Aldean has learned the lesson of cancel culture and didn’t back down. He stood up to the woke mob and said there was nothing in the song for which he should apologize.
So, conservative politicians sensed a new, winnable front in the culture war and jumped in to help Aldean fight back. Governor Kristi Noem, for example, said, “I am shocked by what I’m seeing in this country with people attempting to cancel this song and cancel Jason and his belief. Him and Brittany are outspoken about their love for law and order and for their love of this country and I’m just grateful for them.” Continuing, she added, “I think a lot of times people who go out and fight every day on these important issues and have an opinion and remember the freedom and liberty that this country was founded on get persecuted for it and we’re seeing that right now with the Aldean’s and the songwriters that worked so hard on this.” Ending, she said, “I just want them to know that we support them, we love them, thank you for writing a song that America can get behind.”
Similarly, Tennessee Senator Marsha Blackburn said, “Cancel culture is the enemy of freedom of expression. I stand with @Jason_Aldean!”
Joining them in defending Jason Aldean was President Donald Trump, who said, “Jason Aldean is a fantastic guy who just came out with a great new song. Support Jason all the way. MAGA!!!”
— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) July 20, 2023
Similarly, 2024 GOP hopeful and current Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said, “When the media attacks you, you’re doing something right. @Jason_Aldean has nothing to apologize for.”
When the media attacks you, you’re doing something right. @Jason_Aldean has nothing to apologize for. https://t.co/oEhCFS4CGM
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) July 19, 2023
Gov. DeSantis’ tweet came in response to Aldean’s defense of the song, in which he hammered back at his critics and said, “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.”
He also said what the song was actually about, writing, “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.”
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