Country music legend Lee Greenwood DENIES Jason Aldean is a racist over Try This in a Small Town vid

Publish date: 2024-05-02

Country music legend Lee Greenwood has denied Jason Aldean is a racist and has slammed the controversy around Aldean's new hit song 'Try That in a Small Town'. 

Aldean, 46, released the song last week and has since been slammed for interlacing clips of BLM protestors vandalizing cities with lyrics endorsing protecting yourself with a gun. 

Speaking to Fox News, Greenwood has now supported the singer during the ongoing backlash, saying he is 'the biggest patriot' and that it is a 'great song'.

The 'God Bless the U.S.A.' singer said: 'I am a Jason Aldean fan, and he is the biggest patriot like a lot of us.

'This has nothing to do with racism, this is about people trying to take away the freedom of expression. It's a great song, I wish I had it.'


Fox News Privacy Policy Greenwood, pictured right, told Fox News that he believed Aldean to be 'the biggest patriot' and that he also loved the song

Greenwood, pictured right, told Fox News that he believed Aldean to be 'the biggest patriot' and that he also loved the song

In the music video, Aldean sings before a large white property and an American flag interlaced with clips of BLM protests

In the music video, Aldean sings before a large white property and an American flag interlaced with clips of BLM protests

 Greenwood continued: 'When it first came out I was all over that, I love Jason's approach. [He's] a great artist. He always does the right thing.

'It's about a small town flavor, people can't take our freedom away because people know everybody in a small town.

'I'm a bible thumping, gun toting, Christian. But when you talk about having guns in your home for offence, it's not about an offensive weapon.

'It's about hunting, it's about having the right to have the gun.'

The music video was met with backlash among some who felt the lyrics were dog-whistles intended to offend, while others saw it as a commentary on America's sharp divides. 

The hit takes aim at woke activists for acting 'a fool', particularly condemning the series of BLM protests that sprung up across America following the police-killing of George Floyd in 2020.

The riots resulted in billions of dollars in damage and led to questions over why such a large number of people were willing to break the law, with Aldean feeling the unrest was due to people not being 'raised right'.

Aldean opens the song: 'Cuss out a cop, spit in his face. Stomp on the flag and light it up. Yeah, ya think you're tough? Try that in a small town.'

Jason Aldean performs during CMA Fest 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 9, 2022

Jason Aldean performs during CMA Fest 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 9, 2022

His lyrics continue: 'Sucker punch somebody on a sidewalk, carjack an old lady at a red light, pull a gun on the owner of a liquor store - ya think it's cool, well, act a fool.

'See how far ya make it down the road. Around here, we take care of our own. You cross that line, it won't take long for you to find out - I recommend you don't try that in a small town.' 

Greenwood is the latest country star to come out in defense of Aldean over the song, with Travis Tritt and Pat Boone also backing him. 

Speaking to Fox News earlier this week, Boone described the country music industry as being 'sick' over the attempts to shun Aldean. 

During the Fox interview, he also held up a Colt-44 given to him by his grandfather Pritchard, telling host Jesse Watters it is exactly the type of weapon families used to defend themselves.

Boone continued: 'For anybody, country music or not, to take a stand against us taking a stand for our own rights is just sick. 

'It's just moral sickness, I can't believe anybody is criticizing Jason.'  

During the Fox interview, Boone pulled out his grandfathers Colt 44 that he had given him

During the Fox interview, Boone pulled out his grandfathers Colt 44 that he had given him 

Grammy award winning singer Travis Tritt publicly supported Aldean, who he had previously toured with

Grammy award winning singer Travis Tritt publicly supported Aldean, who he had previously toured with 

Tritt tweeted: 'I would also like to remind my friend that Twitter and social media in general is not a real place. 

'The views shared by many accounts on this platform are not actually representative of the vast majority of the population of this country. 

'Say what you want to say and be who you want to be. Damn the social media torpedoes.'

The song was met with mixed reviews, with liberal listeners feeling Aldean's touting of Southern norms and anti-rioting were far-right affronts, while fans found it hard to disagree with its traditional values.

Taking to Twitter after the song was released last Friday, Aldean said the hit was inspired by the 'unspoken rule' of small towns of 'we all have each other's backs and we look out for each other.'

Aldean posted on Twitter to celebrate releasing his new song to the public on July 14

Aldean posted on Twitter to celebrate releasing his new song to the public on July 14

The country music star used footage from Black Lives Matter riots for the divisive song

The country music star used footage from Black Lives Matter riots for the divisive song

'It feels like somewhere along the way, that sense of community and respect has gotten lost. Deep down we are all ready to get back to that,' he added.

'I hope my new music video helps y’all know that u are not alone in feeling that way.'

Fans of the hit-maker were quick to praise the conservative-tinged tune, with one branding it 'absolutely epic.'

'(Aldean) rips into the left-wing riots, soft on crime governance in cities, gun control, and other leftist degradation,' they added.

Since the video and music was released last week, it has divided people on social media over the nature of its words and video

Since the video and music was released last week, it has divided people on social media over the nature of its words and video 

'You have to try to be offended by this,' added another, with fans of the country music star agreeing his focus on traditional values should be merited.

But others were quick to condemn the singer for his Republican views, with one person claiming they liked his music until they found out how conservative he was. 

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