Jason Aldean‘s controversial song, “Try That In A Small Town,” is experiencing a major drop in the charts. Many people online, including musicians and other celebrities, have expressed outrage over the song’s lyrics and music video, which was described by some as “racist” and “pro-lynching” and pulled from CMT following the backlash.
The song reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top 100 during the week of July 31, and No. 2 for weeks prior to that. “Try That in a Small Town” has now fallen to No. 21. Other songs noted for having the biggest week-to-week drop on Billboard‘s Top 100 include “Like Crazy” by Jimin, which went from the top spot to No. 45, and “willow” by Taylor Swift, which went from No. 1 to No. 38.
Videos by American Songwriter
RELATED: Jason Aldean’s Controversial “Try That in a Small Town” Hits No. 1 on Hot 100
During the backlash one artist to call out Aldean’s song and music video was Sheryl Crow. “I’m from a small town. Even people in small towns are sick of violence,” Crow wrote on Twitter.
“There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence,” Crow continued. “You should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting. This is not American or small-town-like. It’s just lame.”
Aldean responded to the controversy on social media. “There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it — and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage — and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music, this one goes too far,” he wrote.
“As so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91-where so many lost their lives- and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy,” he continued. “NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart.”
“When u grow up in a small town, it’s that unspoken rule of ‘we all have each other’s backs and we look out for each other.’ It feels like somewhere along the way, that sense of community and respect has gotten lost,” he added. “Deep down we are all ready to get back to that. I hope my new music video helps y’all know that u are not alone in feeling that way…”
Photo by Joshua Applegate/Getty Images
More Latest Music News & Stories
-
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – OCTOBER 26: Randy Travis waves to the audience at the Concert For Carolina Benefit Concert at Bank of America Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for Concert For Carolina) -
MORNINGTON, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 27: Angry Anderson of Rose Tattoo performs on stage at the Red Hot Summer Tour at Mornington Race course on April 27, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Martin Philbey/WireImage) -
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: Sturgill Simpson performs at The Greek Theatre on April 24, 2025 in Berkeley, California. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images) -
THE VOICE — "Blind Auditions" Episode 3002 — Pictured: (l-r) Adam Levine, Riley Green, Carson Daly, Kelly Clarkson, Queen Latifah — (Photo by: Trae Patton/NBC via Getty Images) -
PACOIMA, CA – SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 – – Flowers were left at a makeshift memorial for reporter Eliana Moreno and pilot George Marciniw, with NBC NewsChopper4, at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima on September 19, 2026. Moreno and Marciniw were killed when their helicopter crashed while covering a bus accident in Chatsworth Tuesday evening. The pair flew for together years and provided news coverage for NBC4 and its Spanish-language sister station, Telemundo 52.(Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images) -
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – MAY 17: (L-R) Ella Langley and Miranda Lambert attend the 61st Academy of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 17, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for ACM)
