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Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” has risen to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 songs chart. The single was first released in May but has become the center of attention in recent weeks after its official video drew criticism for its use of footage from the BLM movement in 2020. That footage was promptly edited out (owing to "third party copyright clearance issues") but multiple scenes of Aldean performing in front of the Tennessee courthouse that was the site of a 1927 mob lynching and a 1946 race riot remained. CMT, the country music TV station, took the video down three days after its release.
Aldean has spent the past few weeks defending himself from accusations of racism, telling a crowd in Cincinnati last month that "cancel culture is a thing."
Naturally, all of this attention has led to an uptick in streams and general focus on the song. Billboard reports that "Try That...." drew 30.7 million streams and 8.8 million radio airplay audience impressions in the week of July 21-27.
Aldean's chart success also contributes to a new Billboard record, with Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night” at No. 2 and Luke Combs’ “Fast Car” at No. 3 marking the first time three country songs have occupied those top spots since the Hot 100’s creation in 1958.
