In a time when artistic freedom intertwines with political controversy, country superstar Cody Johnson has recently voiced his unfaltering support for fellow singer, Jason Aldean, known for his song, “Try That in a Small Town.” The crosshairs of censorship have taken aim at Aldean, and in the heartland of the United States, St. Louis, Johnson took a stand before his roaring fans at the Chaifetz Arena. He rallied the crowd, shouting out, “If being patriotic makes you an outlaw, then by God, I’ll be an outlaw.”
Cody Johnson threw his support behind Jason Aldean the other night!!!
“If being patriotic makes me an outlaw, then by God, I'll be an outlaw.” pic.twitter.com/5avT4uAvcn
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) July 22, 2023
The scuffle stemmed from Aldean’s latest single— a raw depiction of the violent Black Lives Matter protests of 2020 and the concurrent spike in crime rates in major cities. The track has incited the wrath of leftists and corporate journalists alike, who have sought to mute the gritty realities sung by Aldean. However, the demands for censorship did not stifle the patriotic voice of the Georgian country star. In fact, it amplified it, with echoes of support reverberating from fellow country artists like Lee Greenwood and Travis Tritt.
Paramount-owned CMT had initially yanked the music video of “Try That in a Small Town” off its platform succumbing to pressure by leftist activists. Yet, Aldean refused to bend the knee to the intimidating mob, standing his ground both on and off stage. His defiance was met by roars of approval from crowds at his shows, reiterating their patriotic sentiment with chants of “USA!”
Jason Aldean is not backing down 🔥 pic.twitter.com/yDPWP1mNO3
— AG 🔥 (@Yolo304741) July 22, 2023
Aldean, a formidable force in the country music world, has been exceptionally persevering, steeling himself against media allegations of racism and wielding his love for his country as his defense. He publicly declared, “I’m proud to be from here. I love our country. I want to see it restored to what it once was before all this bullshit started happening to it.”
The conflict around Aldean’s song did not dampen its success on the charts. In a turnaround of events, rising above the controversy, “Try That in a Small Town” planted itself firmly at the No. 2 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 this week, indicating that the uproar has incentivized, rather than hindered, its popularity.
In an era of political correctness and increasing polarization, country music, with its well-rooted tradition of valuing freedom of expression and belief, has found itself at the forefront of a new wave of societal rebellion. Johnson’s public backing of Aldean echoed not just within the reverberating walls of the concert arena, but across the nation, demonstrating to those in his industry and beyond that standing up for personal convictions, despite facing cancellation and criticism, is a fight worth pursuing. The music of Aldean, backed by the likes of Johnson, Greenwood, and Tritt, serves as a rallying cry for liberty, a disavowal of censorship, and a reminder to all artists of their fundamental right to express their truths.
