Jason Aldean addressed the controversy surrounding his song “Try That in a Small Town” during a recent concert.
If you were unaware, the 46-year-old country star was accused of racism and more as critics dissected the song’s lyrics and music video.
The video was pulled by CMT, and Jason was called out by the likes of Sheryl Crow.
Despite the blowback, Billboard noted that the song is racking up sales and streams at a prodigious rate as fans listened to show their support.
Jason weighed in on the controversy and cancel culture as a whole while onstage in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Read more about Jason Alden’s response to criticism of his song…
“I’ve seen a lot of stuff suggesting I’m this, suggesting I’m that,” he said during a speech, via Deadline. “Here’s one thing I feel, I feel everybody’s entitled to their opinion. You can think something all you want to, it doesn’t mean it’s true. What I am is a proud American… I love our country. I want to see it restored to what it once was before all this bulls-it started happening to us. I love my country, I love my family and I will do anything to protect that.”
He turned his focus toward cancel culture, seemingly addressing his fans’ reaction to the situation: “You guys know how it is, in this day and age, cancel culture is a thing. That’s something that if people don’t like what you say they try to make sure they can cancel you, which means try to ruin your life, ruin everything,” he opined. “One thing I saw this week was a bunch of country music fans that can see through a lot of the bulls-it. I saw country music fans rally like I’ve never seen before and it was pretty bada-s, I gotta say. Thank you guys so much.”
“Try That in a Small Town” was on the setlist from the start of Jason‘s tour earlier this month.