When country star Jason Aldean released “Try That in a Small Town” in May 2023, the song didn’t initially grab headlines until its July music video — filmed at the Maury County Courthouse, the site of a 1927 lynching — sparked accusations of vigilante justice and racial hostility. The controversy boosted streams by 999% and reignited a national debate about guns, race, and small-town identity, while Aldean insisted the song was about community pride.

4 related posts

Song release date: May 19, 2023 ·
Music video release: July 2023 ·
Stream increase after controversy: 999% ·
CMT action: Pulled video from rotation ·
Lyrics controversy focus: Vigilante justice, gun violence

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Whether Aldean and his team were aware of the courthouse’s lynching history
  • Whether the song’s lyrics were intended as a racial dog whistle
  • The exact internal decision process at CMT
  • Whether the lyrics function as a coded threat — a deeply disputed point
3Timeline signal
  • May 2023: Album “Whitsitt Chapel” released
  • July 14, 2023: Official music video debuts
  • Mid-July 2023: Backlash erupts, CMT pulls video
  • Late July 2023: Streams increase 999%
4What’s next
  • Song remains available on all streaming platforms
  • Aldean has defended the song repeatedly
  • Commercial performance spiked despite controversy

A handful of details anchor the story, from the songwriting credits to the video’s filming location.

Field Value
Songwriters Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher, Tully Kennedy, Kurt Allison
Album Whitsitt Chapel
Album release date May 19, 2023
Music video release July 14, 2023
Video filming location Maury County Courthouse, Columbia, Tennessee
CMT action Pulled video from rotation on July 18, 2023

What is the controversy of Try That in a Small Town?

The music video setting

  • The video was filmed in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. According to American Songwriter, the building is the site where 18-year-old Henry Choate was lynched in 1927 after being accused of assaulting a white teenager.
  • PBS NewsHour also reported that the courthouse was the scene of race riots in 1946, adding layers of racial tension to the imagery.
Why this matters

The choice of location turned a generic small-town anthem into a flashpoint for America’s unresolved history of racial violence. Whether intentional or not, the visual context reshaped the song’s meaning.

Accusations of racism and gun violence

  • Critics, including musicians Sheryl Crow and Margo Price, argued that the lyrics promote vigilante justice and gun violence (PBS NewsHour).
  • The song references “gun” and actions like spitting in someone’s face, stepping on a flag, and carjacking — all framed as behaviors that wouldn’t be tolerated in a small town (Wikipedia).
  • Conservative commentators defended the song as pro‑community, while liberal voices saw it as a coded threat to outsiders (Wikipedia).

The pattern: a single song became a proxy for the country’s divide over race, guns, and belonging.

CMT’s response

  • Country Music Television (CMT) pulled the music video from its rotation on July 18, 2023, just days after its premiere (Wikipedia).
  • CMT did not issue a public explanation, but the move signaled that the network deemed the video inappropriate for its audience.

The implication: even within the country music industry, the video crossed a line that executives weren’t willing to defend.

Streaming surge after backlash

  • In the week following the controversy, on‑demand streams of “Try That in a Small Town” jumped 999%, according to Hollywood Reporter.
  • The song also climbed the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No. 1 on the country charts (Wikipedia).
The paradox

The backlash — intended to condemn the song — accelerated its commercial success. For Aldean, the controversy turned a modest release into his biggest hit in years.

Bottom line: The implication: controversy and commercial performance remain tightly linked in modern country music.

What does “try that in a small town” mean?

Literal meaning of the phrase

  • The title line warns that disruptive behaviors — like rioting, disrespecting the flag, or attacking police — will not be tolerated in a small‑town setting (American Songwriter).
  • Wikipedia notes that the lyrics contrast rural and urban lifestyles, implying stronger consequences in a small community.

Interpretation as a warning to outsiders

  • Many listeners interpreted the phrase as a threat to anyone who doesn’t belong — a “don’t try it here” directed at protesters, people of color, or outsiders in general.
  • Critics pointed out that the line “See how far you make it down the road” sounds like a promise of retaliation (Wikipedia).

Connection to small‑town values and community

  • Aldean has said the song reflects the camaraderie he experienced growing up, where neighbors “take care of our own” (Wikipedia).
  • American Songwriter describes the song as addressing crime and deterioration within smaller towns, with a call to protect one’s community.

The catch: a message of community self‑reliance can easily read as a call to armed vigilante action when paired with images of a courthouse where a lynching occurred.

Why did Jason Aldean write the song “Try That in a Small Town”?

Aldean’s stated inspiration

  • Aldean said the song was inspired by the unrest following George Floyd’s death in 2020 and his own small‑town upbringing (Wikipedia).
  • He stated, “There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it,” and insisted the video uses only real news footage (Wikipedia).

Reaction to 2020 protests

  • The lyrics explicitly reference flag burning, carjacking, and attacks on police — actions that became focal points during the 2020 protests against racial injustice (Wikipedia).
  • Critics saw this as a deliberate dog whistle, while supporters called it a realistic depiction of urban crime.

Collaboration with songwriters

  • The song was co‑written by Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher, Tully Kennedy, and Kurt Allison (American Songwriter).
  • It was released as a one‑off single after Aldean’s 2022 album Macon, Georgia.

The catch: regardless of intent, the song’s imagery and timing placed it squarely in the crosshairs of a polarized America.

What song does Stevie Nicks refuse to sing anymore?

The song Landslide

  • In 2023, Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks announced she will no longer perform “Landslide” live because it reminds her too much of Christine McVie, who died in November 2022 (Wikipedia).

Emotional connection to Christine McVie

  • Nicks cited the emotional weight of the song and her close friendship with McVie as the reason for retiring it from her setlist.

Nicks’ public statements

  • In interviews, Nicks said she simply cannot sing “Landslide” without breaking down. The decision was widely respected by fans (Rolling Stone).

What this means: even iconic performers sometimes step back from their biggest hits when the personal cost becomes too high.

What song does Cher refuse to sing?

The song I Got You Babe

  • Cher has repeatedly stated she refuses to perform “I Got You Babe” — her 1965 duet with Sonny Bono — because the association with her ex‑husband is too painful (Biography).

Association with Sonny Bono

  • Cher and Sonny divorced in 1975, and Sonny died in a skiing accident in 1998. She has not performed the song live since his death.

Cher’s personal reasons

  • Cher calls the song a “sweet memory” but one she can’t revisit on stage. The decision underscores how artists separate their public hits from private grief.

The pattern: both Nicks and Cher made a deeply personal choice to stop performing songs that are beloved by fans but emotionally charged for themselves.

Timeline of events

  • May 19, 2023: Album “Whitsitt Chapel” released, includes “Try That in a Small Town.”
  • July 14, 2023: Official music video published on YouTube.
  • Mid‑July 2023: Backlash erupts over video imagery and lyrics; CMT pulls video from rotation (Wikipedia).
  • Late July 2023: Streams spike 999% according to Hollywood Reporter; song reaches No. 1 on country charts.
  • August 2023: Jason Aldean publicly defends the song in interviews, reiterating that it’s about community protection.

The implication: the timeline shows how quickly a cultural flashpoint can escalate and reshape a song’s trajectory.

Clarity check: what we know and what remains uncertain

Confirmed facts

  • Video filmed at Maury County Courthouse, site of 1927 lynching.
  • CMT pulled the video on July 18, 2023.
  • Streams rose 999% after the controversy.

What’s unclear

  • Whether Aldean and his production team knew about the courthouse’s lynching history.
  • Whether the song is racially motivated — a deeply disputed point.
  • CMT’s exact internal reasoning for pulling the video.
  • Whether the lyrics referencing “gun” and related actions were intended as a coded threat.

The pattern: confirmed facts about the controversy are clear, but the intentions behind them remain contested.

Quotes that capture the moment

“There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it.”

— Jason Aldean, as reported by Wikipedia

“The lyrics promote violence and vigilantism. It’s a dangerous message.”

— Margo Price, as quoted by PBS NewsHour

For the country music industry and its audiences, the choice is clear: songs that tap into loaded symbols — even unintentionally — can reshape careers and reignite debates that never really went away.

Additional sources

biography.com, youtube.com, facebook.com

Both songs leveraged small-town imagery to provoke conversation, much like the Old Town Road backlash did on country music charts.

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Frequently asked questions

Is “Try That in a Small Town” banned from radio?

No. The song was never officially banned from radio. CMT pulled the music video from its rotation, but the song continues to be played on many country radio stations and is available on all streaming platforms.

What did Jason Aldean say about the controversy?

Aldean said the song is about community pride and dismissed accusations of racism, stating that there is “not a single lyric that references race.” He also defended the music video as using real news footage.

How did the song perform on the Billboard charts?

“Try That in a Small Town” reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and peaked inside the top 20 of the Hot 100 after the controversy.

Who wrote “Try That in a Small Town”?

The song was co‑written by Kelley Lovelace, Neil Thrasher, Tully Kennedy, and Kurt Allison.

What other songs have faced similar controversy?

Other songs accused of promoting violence or racism include “The Story of O.J.” by Jay‑Z (for its imagery) and “Accidental Racist” by Brad Paisley and LL Cool J. However, each controversy has its own context and outcome.

Where was the music video filmed and why is that significant?

The video was filmed at the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, which was the site of a 1927 lynching and 1946 race riots. Critics say the location gave the song a racially charged subtext.

Did Jason Aldean apologize for the song?

No. Aldean has not apologized; he has consistently defended the song and video as a celebration of small‑town life and community safety.

The pattern: the FAQ reflects the core tensions that continue to surround the song — commercial success, racial symbolism, and the artist’s refusal to back down.

Related reading

Bottom line: The implication: these related stories show how the themes of small‑town justice and legal accountability resonate across different contexts.