Lower than a yr after CMT pulled his music video for “Attempt That in a Small City” from its rotation, Jason Aldean hit the CMT Music Awards, the place he carried out his music “Let Your Boys Be Nation.”
Whereas the ceremony was broadcast dwell from the Moody Heart in Austin, Aldean’s efficiency befell on an outside stage on the College of Texas at Austin.
In Could 2023, the nation singer launched “Attempt That in a Small City,” adopted by a music video in July. The observe was criticized for selling gun violence and taking goal on the Black Lives Matter motion.
Critics known as out lyrics together with: “Cuss out a cop, spit in his face / Stomp on the flag and light-weight it up / Yeah, ya suppose you’re robust / Effectively, strive that in a small city / See how far ya make it down the street.”
And: “Bought a gun that my granddad gave me / They are saying someday they’re gonna spherical up / Effectively, that shit would possibly fly within the metropolis, good luck.”
The music video options clips of the American flag burning, protests and looting.
Amid the backlash, CMT pulled the clip from its rotation.
For his half, Aldean denied the allegations.
“Previously 24 hours I’ve been accused of releasing a pro-lynching music … and was topic to the comparability that I (direct quote) was not too happy with the nationwide BLM protests. These references are usually not solely meritless, however harmful,” he posted on social media. “There’s not a single lyric within the music that references race or factors to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t actual information footage -and whereas I can try to respect others to have their very own interpretation of a music with music- this one goes too far.”
The music video additionally confirmed Aldean taking part in in entrance of a Tennessee courthouse the place a Black man was lynched, however the singer stated he was unaware of the historical past of that location.
The music video additionally was later edited to take away the footage of the BLM protests, although Aldean’s label BBR Music Group stated on the time: “The video footage was edited as a result of third-party copyright clearance points.” The clips in query originated from Fox 5’s Atlanta, in response to The Washington Submit.
Watch his CMT Music Awards efficiency beneath.
The CMT Awards are airing dwell Sunday on CBS (delayed on the West Coast). Kelsea Ballerini is internet hosting, with different performers set to incorporate Jelly Roll together with a particular tribute to the late Toby Keith from Brooks & Dunn and Lainey Wilson.
