Jason Aldean Addresses Controversy During Iowa State Fair Show

Jason Aldean performed at the Iowa State Fair

Jason Aldean performed his greatest country hits at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand on a week ago Sunday night amid controversy.

The Des Moines Register reports concertgoers braved the mid-90-degree excessive heat for a chance to see the country chart-topper. A crowd of 12,581 attended the concert, which ranks behind Eric Church and The Chicks, the second and third most-attended respective Grandstand performances in recent history.

"What's up, Iowa?" Aldean asked as he walked onstage in a Cheap Trick cutoff T-shirt and signature cowboy hat. The three-time ACM Entertainer of the Year performed his specialty rock country steeped with lyrics about backroads and growing up in Georgia.

"You guys have probably seen I've been in the news," Aldean said, in part, during a brief break to talk with the crowd about the backlash about his latest single "Try That in a Small Town."

The song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and marks Aldean's highest-charting single ever. After "Tequila Does," Aldean performed "Fly Over States," "Rearview Town," and a cover of John Rich's "Amarillo Sky" as the crowd cooled off with paper fans.

Then, nearly halfway through his State Fair set, Aldean announced a new album slated for release in November and addressed the controversy surrounding "Try That in a Small Town" at length. Aldean shouted out Allison, who received a hero's welcome from his hometown crowd.

Aldean said the song is about turning on the television every day and looking at what's happening and being like, "what in the hell is wrong with all these people. This is not right."

"In this day and age, man, every time you do something the public or the media doesn't agree with, or one certain side of the public doesn't agree with, they want to cancel everybody," Aldean said. "'You offended somebody.' Well, you can't do anything these days without offending somebody. That's just the way it is."

Jason Aldean thanked fans "from the bottom of our heart" for rallying around the song and video "Try That in a Small Town."

The talk elicited cheers from the audience and Aldean said he is proud of the song, proud of the message it sends and stood by the video. He also thanked fans "from the bottom of our heart" for rallying around the song and video.