George Jones’ Widow Slams ‘Woke Crap’ Leveled At Jason Aldean Over Music Video Controversy

Jul 25, 2023 by apost team

Jason Aldean’s influence on country music stretches far beyond his chart-topping success. Born on Feb. 28, 1977, in Macon, Georgia, the country music singer-songwriter has captivated audiences worldwide with his distinctive voice and electrifying performances.

From a young age, Aldean’s passion for music was palpable, and he honed his craft in the smoky bars of his hometown. His unwavering dedication to his artistry paid off when he signed his first recording contract in 2005 with Broken Bow Records. It was the beginning of an illustrious journey that would see him shatter records and redefine the boundaries of modern country.

With hits like “Big Green Tractor,” “Dirt Road Anthem” and “Burnin’ It Down,” Aldean carved a niche for himself by weaving stories of love, heartbreak and the spirit of the rural American landscape. His resonant voice, tinged with a hint of Southern grit, brings authenticity to every song he delivers, allowing fans to connect deeply with his music.

However, in recent days, Aldean has courted a different kind of attention. While the lead single off his 11th studio album called “Try That in a Small Town” barely made waves when it was released on May 19, 2023, it has become a lightning rod of controversy since its music video was released on July 14. The graphic images of riots and street violence interspersed with Aldean singing about carjackings, armed robberies and police confrontations generated heated debate. Some accused Aldean of glorifying violence and while others defended him for sticking up for conservative values. Politicians and fans from various sides of the divide have thrown their two cents in on the firestorm, and now, the widow of another country music icon is weighing in.

When Aldean first released “Try That in a Small Town,” he described it as a song that “summarizes the way a lot of people feel about the world right now. It seems like there are bad things happening on a daily basis, and that feels unfamiliar to a lot of us. This song sheds some light on that.”

However, Aldean quickly came under fire when the music video for the single was released, not just because of the violent imagery it contained but the fact that Aldean and his band were filmed singing in front of the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee. The courthouse has been the site of riots and racial violence in the past, including the 1927 lynching of a Black teenager. This led many to accuse Aldean of racism, vigilanteism and white nationalism. Among his detractors was singer Sheryl Crow, who tweeted to Aldean that “There’s nothing small-town or American about promoting violence” and that he “should know that better than anyone having survived a mass shooting.” Crow was referring to the Route 91 Harvest music festival mass shooting in 2017 – at which Aldean performed – that saw 60 people killed and over 400 injured. 

Others, however, came to Aldean’s defense, including Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She tweeted:

“The Left is now more concerned about @Jason_Aldean’s song calling out looters and criminals than they are about stopping looters and criminals. That tells you everything you need to know about the priorities of Democrats and woke companies like CMT that cave to the liberal mob.”

As the controversy threatened to blow up into an uncontainable war of words, Aldean himself stepped in to state his piece and took to Twitter to decry the “dangerous” accusations.

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Just four days after the music video’s release, Aldean wrote a lengthy missive on Twitter defending his song. 

“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. 

Aldean said to him the song spoke to the “feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief,” and addressed the fear that “a lot of us in this Country don’t agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to – that’s what this song is about.” 

Now, Nancy Jones, the widow of country music legend George Jones, has weighed in on the issue. She slammed Aldean’s critics on Facebook, urging them to “Stop this WOKE crap!”

“What is this drama all about? George had songs that crossed barriers as well as Loretta (The Pill) and so many others. This woke culture has gone too far. Jason’s song has nothing to do with race!” Nancy remarked.

She said George “loved small towns” where people “take care of each other” and downplayed claims Aldean was inciting violence. 

“Everywhere in America we can probably look back and something bad has happened in that city. What? Are we supposed to stop living our lives until we do a history check on every place we shoot a photo or video? Stop this WOKE crap! George would never have accepted this craziness and I won’t either!” 

What are your thoughts on the controversy surrounding Jason Aldean’s music video? Do you agree with Nancy Jones? If so, let us know and be sure to pass this on to friends and family so they can weigh in on the issue too.