{"id":1325,"date":"2023-07-24T10:31:16","date_gmt":"2023-07-24T10:31:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/used82.com\/?p=1325"},"modified":"2023-07-24T10:31:16","modified_gmt":"2023-07-24T10:31:16","slug":"jason-aldean-small-town-backlash-country-singer-wife-brittany-fight-back-amid-controversies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/used82.com\/?p=1325","title":{"rendered":"Jason Aldean \u2018Small Town\u2019 backlash: Country singer, wife Brittany fight back amid controversies"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"sub-headline speakable\">CMT removed music video for \u2018Try That in a Small Town\u2019 after backlash over song\u2019s lyrics<\/h2>\n<p class=\"speakable\">Jason Aldean\u00a0is tackling his latest controversy with his wife, Brittany, by his side.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"speakable\">Aldean\u2019s new single, \u201cTry That in a Small Town,\u201d has sparked backlash for its perceived racist content and had its music video pulled from Country Music Television (CMT).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTry That in a Small Town\u201d was released in May, and the lyrics speak to small towns not putting up with riots and lawlessness many cities faced in the summer of 2020.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the lyrics in the song included in Aldean\u2019s forthcoming, as-yet-untitled album include, \u201cGot a gun that my granddad gave me, They say one day they\u2019re gonna round up, Well, that s\u2013t might fly in the city, good luck, Try that in a small town, See how far ya make it down the road, You cross that line, it won\u2019t take long, For you to find out, I recommend you don\u2019t, Try that in a small town.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>COUNTRY SINGER JASON ALDEAN ANGERS LIBERAL ACTIVISTS WITH ANTI-CRIME, PRO-GUN SONG ABOUT 2020 RIOTS<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"m\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><picture data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/GettyImages-1387165915.jpg\" alt=\"Jason Aldean looks off in the distance wearing a black cowboy hat\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<p data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">Jason Aldean was ridiculed online for his song \u201cTry That In A Small Town,\u201d prompting the country star to speak out and defend himself.<\/span>\u00a0<span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">(Rich Polk\/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Scenes from the music video were shot outside the Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, where an 18-year-old Black man named Henry Choate was lynched in 1927. The courthouse was also a pivotal site during the Columbia race riot in 1946.<\/p>\n<p>The video also includes footage of protesters vandalizing cities, flipping off police officers and burning flags, assumed to be from the wave of police brutality riots during the height of the pandemic in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>CMT confirmed to Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the clip was pulled from its rotation but did not provide more context for the decision.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-media youtube\" data-v-5a001baa=\"\">\n<div class=\"video-container\" data-v-5a001baa=\"\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/b1_RKu-ESCY\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-v-5a001baa=\"\" data-origwidth=\"720\" data-origheight=\"405\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>On Wednesday, the production company for the music video, TackleBox, confirmed the music video was shot at Maury County Courthouse, adding that it is a \u201cpopular filming location outside of Nashville.\u201d Several music videos and movies have filmed there, including the Lifetime Original movie \u201cSteppin\u2019 into the Holiday\u201d with Mario Lopez and Jana Kramer. TackleBox also noted that the location was featured in a Runaway June music video for their 2019 song \u201cWe Were Rich,\u201d the 2022 Paramount holiday film \u201cA Nashville Country Christmas\u201d with Tanya Tucker, and Miley Cyrus\u2019 2009 film \u201cHannah Montana: The Movie.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In its statement, the company said, \u201cAny alternative narrative suggesting the music video\u2019s location decision is false,\u201d and noted that Aldean did not pick the location.<\/p>\n<p><strong>JASON ALDEAN ADDRESSES CRITICISM OF CONTROVERSIAL COUNTRY MUSIC VIDEO: \u2018THIS ONE GOES TOO FAR\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"m\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><picture data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/jason-aldean-cmafest.jpg\" alt=\"Jason Aldean wears a green T-shirt and holds his guitar on stage at CMAFest\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<p data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">The production company for Aldean\u2019s music video noted in a statement that many other movies and music videos have been filmed at the Maury County Courthouse where \u201cTry That in a Small Town\u201d was filmed.<\/span>\u00a0<span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">(Monica Murray)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>In the wake of the music video being pulled and general outcry over the song, Aldean took to social media on Tuesday to speak out.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn the past 24 hours I have been accused of releasing a pro-lynching song (a song that has been out since May) and was subject to the comparison that I (direct quote) was not too pleased with the nationwide BLM protests,\u201d Aldean shared with his nearly 8 million fans across social media.<\/p>\n<div class=\"embed-media twitter\">\n<div class=\"tweet-embed\">\n<div class=\"twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered\"><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" class=\"\" title=\"Twitter Tweet\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?dnt=false&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=true&amp;id=1681382697875144717&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fentertainment%2Fjason-aldean-small-town-backlash-country-singer-and-wife-brittany-fight-back-amid-controversies&amp;sessionId=8ec190a54e75c8a0b01f7d9e5b05b06bacae1867&amp;siteScreenName=foxnews&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=aaf4084522e3a%3A1674595607486&amp;width=550px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-tweet-id=\"1681382697875144717\" data-origwidth=\"\" data-origheight=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cThese references are not only\u00a0meritless, but dangerous,\u201d he continued. \u201cThere is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn\u2019t a single video clip that isn\u2019t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He further clarified the meaning of the song, writing, \u201c\u2018Try That In A Small Town,\u2019 for me, refers to the feeling of a community that I had growing up, where we took care of our neighbors, regardless of differences of background or belief. Because they were our neighbors, and that was above any differences.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He added, \u201cMy political views have never been something I\u2019ve hidden from, and I know that a lot of us in this Country don\u2019t agree on how we get back to a sense of normalcy where we go at least a day without a headline that keeps us up at night. But the desire for it to- that\u2019s what this song is about.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"m\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><picture data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/jason-aldean-try-that-in-a-small-town.jpg\" alt=\"Jason Aldean in Try That In A Small Town music video\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<p data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">Jason Aldean\u2019s music video for \u201cTry That in a Small Town\u201d has been pulled by CMT, but no reason was given.<\/span>\u00a0<span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">(BBR Music Group \/ Jason Aldean YouTube)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The 46-year-old also mentioned his experience during the\u00a0Route 91 Harvest festival mass shooting\u00a0in Las Vegas in 2017, which ultimately left 61 dead and hundreds wounded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd so many pointed out, I was present at Route 91, where so many lost their lives- and our community recently suffered another heartbreaking tragedy. NO ONE, including me, wants to continue to see senseless headlines or families ripped apart.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Regarding the music video, Aldean\u2019s wife, Brittany, offered her support on social media, sharing a selfie of the couple while on the beach and writing, \u201cNever apologize for speaking the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She also went on her Instagram Stories, writing, \u201cMedia\u2026 it\u2019s the same song and dance. Twist everything you can to fit your repulsive narrative. How about instead of creating stories, we focus on the REAL ones such as CHILD TRAFFICKING? Food for thought.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"m\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><picture data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/brittany-aldean-jason-aldean.jpg\" alt=\"Brittany Aldean smiles on the sand with Jason Aldean\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<p data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">Brittany Aldean shared a quiet moment with husband Jason as his latest music video faced new controversy.<\/span>\u00a0<span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">(Instagram \/ Brittany Aldean)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>JASON ALDEAN\u2019S WIFE ON HAVING COURAGE TO SHARE POLITICAL VIEWS THAT GO AGAINST THE GRAIN: \u2018DON\u2019T GIVE A DAMN\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Together, the couple has faced multiple controversies over their views.<\/p>\n<p>Last year, Brittany shared a \u201cget ready with me\u201d video on her social media of her applying makeup with the caption, \u201cI\u2019d really like to thank my parents for not changing my gender when I went through my tomboy phase. I love this girly life.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Aldean commented on her post, writing, \u201cLmao!! Im glad they didn\u2019t too, cause you and I wouldn\u2019t have worked out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The caption spurred reactions from people feeling\u00a0the comment was transphobic,\u00a0including country music stars Cassadee Pope and Maren Morris.<\/p>\n<p>Pope tweeted that celebrities could \u201csee the positives in including LGBTQ+ people in their messaging\u201d while Morris wrote on Twitter, \u201cIt\u2019s so easy to, like, not be a scumbag human? Sell your clip-ins and zip it, Insurrection Barbie.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Brittany responded in an Instagram Story, writing, \u201cAdvocating for the genital mutilation of children under the disguise of love and calling it \u2018gender affirming care,\u2019 is one of the worst evils. I will always support my children and do what I can do protect their innocence.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"m\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><picture data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BrittanyAldeanMarenMorris.jpg\" alt=\"Brittany Aldean in orange and Maren Morris in purple\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<p data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">Brittany Aldean and Maren Morris faced off on social media over Aldean\u2019s comments about her \u201ctomboy phase\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">(Denise Truscello)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>BRITTANY ALDEAN\u2019S COMMENTS ON GENDER ARE PRAISED, BASHED BY STARS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Amid the controversy, Aldean\u2019s public relations firm, the GreenRoom, announced they would no longer be representing the country star.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMusic has always been and remains The GreenRoom\u2019s core focus, so we had to make the difficult decision after 17 years to step away from representing Jason,\u201d\u00a0Tyne Parrish, co-owner of GreenRoom, said\u00a0in a statement to Billboard. \u201cWe aren\u2019t the best people for the gig anymore, but will always be big fans of his music \u2013 he is one of the greatest live entertainers in country music.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the wake of being called \u201cInsurrection Barbie\u201d by Morris, Brittany debuted a line of Barbie-inspired T-shirts emblazoned with the phrase \u201cDon\u2019t tread on our kids.\u201d In a post shared to her Instagram Story, she said proceeds from the clothing line will go toward Operation Light Shine, a charity to \u201chelp fight child exploitation and human trafficking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But fashion caused another controversy for the Aldeans.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"m\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><picture data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/JasonAldeanBrittanyAldean1.jpg\" alt=\"Jason Aldean in a suit and cowboy hat with Brittany Aldean in a red dress\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<p data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">Jason and Brittany Aldean have been outspoken about their political beliefs, often courting controversy.<\/span>\u00a0<span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">(Axelle \/ Bauer-Griffin \/ FilmMagic \/ File)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>BRITTANY ALDEAN SAYS TRANSGENDER COMMENTS \u2018WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT\u2019 AS SHE LAUNCHES CHARITY CLOTHING LINE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In 2021, Brittany shared photos on her Instagram showing herself wearing an\u00a0\u201cAnti Biden Social Club\u201d\u00a0T-shirt and her children with Aldean, Memphis and Navy, wearing T-shirts that read \u201cHidin\u2019 from Biden.\u201d (Aldean was not wearing any political clothing in the image.)<\/p>\n<p>After negative reaction to the shirts, Aldean came to his wife\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will never apologize for my beliefs or my love for my family and country,\u201d Aldean wrote in the caption of an Instagram post, featuring him silhouetted against the American flag.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is the greatest country in the world and I want to keep it that way,\u201d\u00a0he added with the hashtag #unapologetic.<\/p>\n<p>Aldean reiterated his comments a month later on Audacy\u2019s \u201cRob + Holly,\u201d\u00a0saying he\u2019s not afraid of being canceled.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"m\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><picture data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/BrittanyAldeanJasonAldean.jpg\" alt=\"Brittany Aldean with Jason Aldean in a cowboy hat\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<p data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">Jason Aldean has said he \u201cwill never apologize\u201d for his beliefs after his wife, Brittany, posted herself and their children wearing anti-Biden T-shirts.<\/span>\u00a0<span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">(John Shearer \/ Getty Images for CMA \/ File)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/entertainment\/jason-aldean-canceled-political-views\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>JASON ALDEAN SPEAKS OUT ON POSSIBLY BEING CANCELED OVER POLITICAL VIEWS: \u2018I THINK PEOPLE KNOW WHERE I STAND\u2019<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think people know where I stand politically. I\u2019m not a guy that\u2019s just going to go out there and start trying to stir the pot just to stir the pot,\u201d Aldean told the program. \u201cAt some point, it\u2019s gotten to where if you\u2019re a conservative and you\u2019re in this business, you\u2019re not allowed to speak.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople are going to have their opinion about whatever I say or think or whatever, and that\u2019s completely fine,\u201d he continued. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to agree with me. I don\u2019t expect everybody to agree with me, but I also have a voice and opinion just like everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The country star voiced his opinion against\u00a0vaccine mandates\u00a0for schoolchildren in California by Gov. Gavin Newsom in late 2021, around the same time as his wife\u2019s T-shirt controversy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"m\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><picture data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/JasonAldeanBrittanyAldean2.jpg\" alt=\"Jason Aldean and Brittany Aldean posing together on the red carpet\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<p data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">Jason Aldean spoke out about vaccine mandates on his social media around the same time his wife caused controversy with her anti-Biden T-shirt.<\/span>\u00a0<span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">(Taylor Hill \/ FilmMagic \/ File)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo let me get this straight! It is no longer our decisions as parents (or free Americans) to make decisions about our kids, Gavin Newsom makes those decisions for us now?? You gotta be kidding me!\u201d Aldean wrote in an Instagram post.<\/p>\n<p>He continued, \u201cPeople in California should be outraged and people everywhere else better start standing up and speaking out NOW. This is not how America and being free works.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A year earlier, he had fired back against people criticizing him for\u00a0not wearing a mask at Disney World\u00a0with his family during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"m\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><picture data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" \/><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/GettyImages-1382652184.jpg\" alt=\"Jason Aldean smiles in black on the carpet\" \/><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<div class=\"caption\" data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">\n<p data-v-1fd77e21=\"\"><span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">Jason Aldean fired back at people criticizing him and his family for not wearing masks during a 2020 trip to Disney World.<\/span>\u00a0<span data-v-1fd77e21=\"\">(Jeff Kravitz \/ FilmMagic \/ File)<\/span><\/p>\n<p>According to Taste of Country, after sharing a mask-free photo on his social media and receiving criticism, Aldean responded to one of the comments, writing, \u201cChill out lady. They are in our pocket. We took them off for 5 seconds to take the pic. Believe me, Disney didn\u2019t give us a \u2018free pass\u2019 not to wear them. We had them on all day just like everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 2015, Aldean stirred controversy once again. At the time, The Guardian reported that the \u201cDirt Road Anthem\u201d singer dressed as rapper Lil Wayne for Halloween in blackface makeup and a wig with dreadlocks.<\/p>\n<p>He spoke out a year later in an interview with Billboard, saying, \u201cIn this day and age people are so sensitive that no matter what you do, somebody is going to make a big deal out of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMe doing that had zero malicious intent. I get that race is a touchy subject, but not everybody is that way. Media tends to make a big deal out of things. If that was disrespectful to anyone, I by all means apologize. That was never my intention. It never crossed my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CMT removed music video for \u2018Try That in a Small Town\u2019 after backlash over song\u2019s&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1326,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"views":29,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1325"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1325\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1326"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/used82.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}