Jason Aldean addressed criticism he\u2019s faced throughout the week following the release of the music video for his latest hit, \u201cTry That in a Small Town.\u201d<\/p>\n
In new videos surfacing on social media, Aldean joked he\u2019s had \u201ca long-a\u2013 week.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a long week, and I\u2019ve seen a lot of stuff,\u201d the country singer said between songs. \u201cI\u2019ve seen a lot of stuff suggesting I\u2019m this, suggesting I\u2019m that.\u201d<\/p>\n
On Instagram Tuesday, Aldean, 46, rejected the notion that his new tune, which hit airwaves in May and only recently received visuals, referenced \u201crace or points to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the music video, Aldean touts how small towns wouldn\u2019t put up with the kind of riots and lawlessness many cities across the country faced during the summer of 2020.<\/p>\n
The crowd at the Riverbend Music Center erupted into boos before Aldean could continue.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere\u2019s the thing,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel like everybody is entitled to their opinion. You can think something all you want to; it doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s true \u2013 right?\u201d<\/p>\n
Aldean added, \u201cWhat I am is a proud American. I\u2019m proud to be from here. I love our country. I want to see it restored to what it once was before all of this bulls\u2013t started happening to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI love my country, I love my family, and I will do anything to protect that \u2013 I can tell you that right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before Aldean could say another word, the crowd began chanting \u201cUSA.\u201d<\/p>\n
Country singer Jason Aldean performs on stage in cowboy hat and green shirt
\nJason Aldean defended his latest music video for new country song, \u201cTry That in a Small Town.\u201d (Monica Murray)<\/p>\n
Brittany Aldean shared a few snaps with her millions of followers on Instagram before the concert in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n
She showed off matching cowgirl outfits with their daughter, Navy Rome. The mother-daughter-duo got a peek backstage, and then went to help Jason and his crew sling beverages out to fans wading in the river.<\/p>\n
Earlier in the week, Aldean denied his song, \u201cTry That in a Small Town,\u201d had racial undertones after critics voiced disdain for the new music video.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 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,\u201d Aldean shared Tuesday with his nearly 8 million fans across social media.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese references are not only meritless, but dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n
Country Music Television (CMT) pulled the video from rotation three days after initially airing the video, representatives confirmed with Fox News Digital. CMT did not provide more information about why the video was removed from air.<\/p>\n
Brittany backed her husband by sharing a selfie with Jason, and wrote on her own social platforms, \u201cNever apologize for speaking the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n
The second single from his as-yet untitled 11th studio album featured footage from Black Lives Matter protests in 2020.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Try 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,\u201d Aldean wrote. \u201cBecause they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences.\u201d<\/p>\n