Celeb Sensation Jason Aldean Sparks Controversy with Provocative Pro-Gun Anthem

Jason Aldean is receiving criticism for his song "Try That in a Small Town" due to its inclusion of pro-gun messages. The lyrics of the song have sparked controversy among fans since its release on Friday, July 14.

“Insult a police officer, spit in his face / Trample on the flag and set it ablaze / Yes, you believe you're brave," Aldean, 46, croons. "Well, attempt that in a small community / Witness how quickly you progress along the way / In this locality, we watch out for our own / Once you cross that boundary, it won't take much time / For you to discover, it is advisable you refrain."

Aldean alludes to proposed gun control measures, remarking, "Own a firearm inherited from my grandfather / They claim they will eventually confiscate / Well, that will not be accepted in urban settings, good luck."

Listeners on social media have criticized Aldean's songwriting, particularly in light of his personal experience with mass shootings. In 2017, during one of his performances in Las Vegas, a gunman fired into the crowd, resulting in the deaths of 58 individuals and injuries to 546 others.

"Uvalde? A small town. VA Tech? A small college town. Newtown? A small New England town. Parkland? A small town that was just voted as Florida's safest town. The majority of mass shootings happen in small towns, @Jason_Aldean. Your listeners are losing their lives," stated a tweet from a social media user on July 17th.

Jason Aldean. Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock

Aldean has not publicly addressed the backlash regarding the Vegas incident, but he did provide insight into the inspiration behind the song on Friday. In a tweet, he expressed that growing up in a small town instilled an unspoken rule of supporting and looking out for one another. However, he believed that over time, this sense of community and respect has been lost. Through his new music video, Aldean hopes to remind everyone that they are not alone in feeling a desire to return to that unity.

"We use in-ear monitors while performing on stage. This allows us to focus solely on the music, with the ability to communicate with our team members through microphones at the side-stage," he explained in November 2017. "At first, when it occurred, I thought a speaker had malfunctioned. It sounded like a crackling noise. I looked around, trying to identify the source. Eventually, it stopped, leading me to believe it had been resolved. Thus, I continued with my performance."

During that same month, Aldean paid tribute to those affected by the shooting in a separate performance.

"I don't need to remind you all, but these past few months have been extremely challenging for us. It brings me great joy to be back on stage, performing for the people who truly matter - all of you," he addressed the audience. "I have dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to pursue a career in this industry and engage in what I truly love. I refuse to let anyone hinder my passion and determination."

This isn't the first occasion where Aldean has attracted attention with his choice of words. In August 2022, he publicly supported his wife Brittany Aldean despite her alleged transphobic remarks.

Brittany, 34, expressed her gratitude towards her parents for respecting her gender identity during her tomboy phase and embracing her current feminine lifestyle. In the midst of this, Marren Morris drew attention to the January 6th Capitol attack, urging Brittany to refrain from making contentious remarks by addressing her as "Insurrection Barbie" and suggesting she focus on selling her products instead.

Jason, for his part, weighed in on the drama by calling Brittany “MY Barbie” in an Instagram comment.