Country music superstar Jason Aldean stirred up the crowd during Thursday night’s performance in Columbia, Maryland when he unveiled an American flag in the midst of singing his controversial song, “Try That In A Small Town.” The crowd roared with cheers as Aldean brandished the Stars and Stripes.
Aldean, whose song has been at the heart of heated debates and a wave of criticism accusing him of racism, seems to be standing firm. While some have interpreted the song as divisive and insensitive, Aldean has pointed out the song is about unity and the shared values of small-town America.
As Aldean sang the lyrics, “See how far you make it down…” he pulled out an American flag that was met with an eruption of cheers and applause from the concert-goers. The move was seen by many as a defiant stance against the media’s backlash, and an affirmation of the unity his song represents.
WATCH:
Jason Aldean puts an American flag over his shoulder while singing “Try That In A Small Town” tonight in Maryland 🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/67ty8oLmHA
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 28, 2023
Since the controversy erupted, Aldean has defended his song as a tribute to the unity and resilience of small-town America. In a recent statement, he said, “The references people have made are not only meritless but dangerous… there is not a single video clip that isn’t real news footage.” He added that while he can respect others’ interpretation of a song, he believes the criticism of “Try That In A Small Town” goes too far.
Despite the controversy, the song continues to perform well on the charts, even reaching the number-one spot on US iTunes. While Aldean may be a divisive figure in the public eye, his music still resonates strongly with a significant portion of the country.
