Sheryl Crow Shuts Down Jason Aldean Amid Song Debate
Having grown up in a small town herself, Sheryl Crow has a lot to say about Jason Aldean's claims about the small-town perspective in his new song.
The country singer joined the conversation surrounding Aldean's song, "Try That In A Small Town," and his music video, which has caused quite a stir since it came out on July 14.
Crow retweeted a message by Shannon Watts, the founder of Moms Demand Action, an organization at the forefront of the fight for gun control, that called out Aldean for writing a song "about how he and his friends will shoot you if you try to take their guns" after surviving a mass shooting himself in 2017.
The "Soak Up The Sun" singer agreed with Watts, declaring that, despite Aldean arguing that his song portrays the small-town experience, "Try That In A Small Town" is not accurate.
Crow tagged Aldean and wrote, "I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence. There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting."
"This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame," she concluded.
.@Jason_Aldean I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence.There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence. You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting.
This is not American or small town-like. It’s just lame https://t.co/cuOtUO9xjr— Sheryl Crow (@SherylCrow) July 19, 2023
Previously, Aldean released a statement in response to the backlash, saying that the lyrics of "Try That In A Small Town" focuses on the idea of neighbors taking care of each other "regardless of differences of background or belief."
The music video was criticized for other reasons as well, including the use of protest footage and the filming location of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee–the site of the 1927 lynching of Henry Choate, an 18-year-old Black man. The "Try That In A Small Town" video has since been pulled from CMT.
As the controversy continues, Aldean's wife, Brittany Aldean, also chimed in, sharing her support for her husband on social media.
Next: Jason Aldean Gives Health Update After Abruptly Ending Concert: "Pretty Intense"