Jason Aldean Performs Controversial Song Despite Alleged CBS Ban

Jason’s side is making headlines again after performing his polarizing song “Try That In A Small Town,” despite reports that the track was flagged as banned for a New Year’s Eve broadcast. The country star’s decision to move forward with the song reignited a firestorm that has followed the track since its release, with critics accusing Jason Aldean of glorifying vigilantism and stoking cultural division, while his supporters praise it as a reflection of the values of small towns and community loyalty.

Released against a backdrop of heightened political and social tensions, “Try That In A Small Town” quickly became one of Aldean’s most controversial songs to date. Although Aldean is not credited as a songwriter on the track, consistent with most of his 27 career hit singles, he has publicly defended its message.

In a statement released alongside the music video, Aldean described the song as reflecting what he considers an “unspoken rule” for people raised in small towns. “We all support each other and look out for each other,” Aldean said at the time.

The lyrics, however, draw a stark contrast between urban and rural life, opening with references to crimes often associated with cities, including muggings and carjackings, before building into a chorus that many critics believe carries an implicit threat toward outsiders. “Well try this in a small town / See how far you get down the road / Here we take care of our own / You cross that line, it won’t take long / Just so you know, I recommend you don’t,” he sings.

The tone further intensifies with a reference to gun ownership, which has intensified the debate around the song’s intention. “I got a gun my grandpa gave me / They say someday they’ll round it up / Well that shit might fly around town, good luck / Try that in a small town,” he sings later in the song.

The controversy surrounding Jason Aldean’s song only intensified as he rang in the new year with CBS. Aldean was part of CBS’ “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash” lineup, where he sang “My Kinda Party” for fans. However, when the station moved to a commercial, he had other plans.

According to multiple videos shared on social media, Aldean launched into his controversial song, “Try That In A Small Town,” during a commercial break, effectively circumventing the network’s supposed restriction while continuing to perform it for the Nashville audience. The CBS cameras cut out, but not the audience’s phones.

One viral clip claimed, “CBS wouldn’t let Jason Aldean play this song live…so he played it for all of Nashville while they were in commercial,” a caption that helped the video rack up hundreds of thousands of views and thousands of comments in a matter of hours.

Fans immediately flooded the comments section, hailing the move as a quiet act of defiance. “Play your songs anyway, Jason,” one user wrote. Another added: “This is why he’s my favorite. He does what he wants and doesn’t care who likes it.”