Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” garnered both backlash and interest over the past week for its lyrical content (which some music listeners deemed anti-protests and pro-gun) and for footage of riots and protests included in its accompanying music video. But “Try That” is far from the only song and/or video in country music to court controversy.
As country music closes in on a century since its “Big Bang” moment in 1927, when the Bristol Sessions (helmed by Ralph Peer in Bristol, Tennessee) captured music from The Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers, the genre has encapsulated songs of love, heartbreak, nostalgia for rural upbringings, cheating, lust, partying, hard work, teenage romance and more. But over the years, country music’s history has also been rife with moments where songs have been met with backlash and criticism for various reasons. Some songs brought light to then-taboo topics such as birth control, abortion, or domestic violence, while others pushed the boundaries of what was socially acceptable and challenged the status quo at the time they were released.
Whether it was Tammy Wynette’s “Stand By Your Man” in the 1960s or Garth Brooks’ “The Thunder Rolls” in the 1990s, country music is no stranger to musical controversy. Some songs (and/or their corresponding music videos) were banned from country radio or country music video channels due to their content, with controversy and listener interests pushing many of the songs higher up the radio charts.
Here, we look at 10 songs and/or videos that sparked controversy.
