Country music star Jason Aldean joined “FOX & Friends” exclusively to discuss the release of his upcoming album “Highway Desperado” and the controversy around the hit song “Try That In A Small Town.”
The 11th studio album comes out Nov. 3 and features songs like “Try That In A Small Town,” “Tough Crowd,” and “Let Your Boys Be Country.”
In the interview airing Friday, Aldean said the album’s name came from traveling across the country throughout his music career and living life on the road.
“I just think for all of my adult life, pretty much and really since I’ve been 18 years old, you know, I’ve been traveling around the country and the world now playing music. And that’s kind of what it feels like. It’s like always on the run, living on the road,” he said. “I will say it’s one of the coolest things we’ve done, top to bottom song-wise, I think it’s one of the best albums we’ve done.”
Jason Aldean took a moment at his Massachusetts show to speak to the resiliency of the state in wake of the Boston Marathon bombings in 2013, while discussing the message behind his song “Try That In A Small Town.” (Connie Chornuk via Getty Images)
Aldean also addressed the controversy surrounding the “Try That In A Small Town” music video, telling “FOX & Friends” co-host Ainsley Earhardt, “The song just kind of said what I wanted it to say and kind of how I felt about the state of things right now. Why nobody in the music business will call that out I don’t understand.”
The five-time Grammy Award nominee came under fire over the summer for his anti-crime song that used footage from the 2020 riots showing buildings burning and rioters looting.
Country Music Television pulled the video amid backlash from the public, with some critics accusing him of releasing a “pro-lynching” song over its location as the site of Henry Choate’s 1927 lynching.
TackleBox, the production company for the music video, confirmed that it was shot at Maury County Courthouse, saying it’s a “popular filming location outside of Nashville.” Several music videos and movies have been filmed there, including the Lifetime Original movie “Steppin’ into the Holiday.”
Jason Aldean performs during Kenny Chesney’s The Big Revival Tour & Jason Aldean’s Burn It Down 2015 at Rose Bowl on July 25, 2015 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images) (Getty)
“Try That In A Small Town” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, something Aldean says he never expected.