Country music star Jason Aldean has finally achieved a major milestone in his nearly two-decade career. His song “Try That in a Small Town” has skyrocketed to the top of Billboard’s all-genre singles chart, earning him his very first No. 1 single. However, this achievement did not come without controversy.
Initially debuting at No. 2, “Try That in a Small Town” quickly gathered attention due to the heated debate surrounding its depiction of neighborly values versus allegations of racist vigilantism. The controversy surrounding the song actually helped propel it to the number one position on the charts.
In the most recent week, “Try That in a Small Town” experienced a significant surge in popularity. It garnered an impressive 31 million streams, sold 175,000 copies, and attracted a radio audience of nine million listeners in the United States alone.
Not only has the song been making waves on the airwaves, but its music video, too, has been a topic of discussion. Country Music Television (CMT) initially pulled the video from circulation without any explanation. However, in light of the controversial nature of the song, it seems the video has received some modifications.
A new version of the music video has been released, which is six seconds shorter than the original and no longer includes news clips showing Black Lives Matter protests from 2020. The music video alterations have undoubtedly played a role in the continued success of “Try That in a Small Town.”
As Jason Aldean celebrates his first-ever No. 1 single on Billboard’s all-genre singles chart, the controversy surrounding the song’s lyrics and its accompanying music video has undeniably contributed to its rise to the top. With its massive streams, impressive sales, and wide radio audience, “Try That in a Small Town” has solidified its place as one of the hottest songs in the country music industry right now.
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