Musicians Jason Isbell and Jake Owen Quarrel Over Jason Aldean’s ‘Try That In a Small Town’ Song

usmagazine.com:

Musicians Jason Isbell and Jake Owen went head-to-head on social media over Jason Aldean’s recent song controversy.“[I] dare Aldean to write his next single himself.

That’s what we try in my small town,” Isbell, 44, wrote via Twitter on Thursday, July 20, one week after Aldean, 46, made headlines on July 14 for his track “Try That In a Small Town.”While the song was originally released in May, its new music video brought the controversial lyrics back to the surface among fans. “Got a gun that my granddad gave me / They say one day they’re gonna round up / Well, that s–t might fly in the city, good luck / Try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road,” Aldean sings.Isbell doubled down on his declaration on Thursday. “OK here ya go @Jason_Aldean, I’m challenging you to write a song yourself.

All alone. If you’re a recording artist, make some art. I want to hear it,” he quipped.Calling out Aldean, however, didn’t sit well with Owen, 41, who fired back at Isbell the same day. “Jason, you’re always the first to get behind your keyboard and spout off with this stupid s—t,” Owen tweeted. “In ‘my small town’ you just walk up to the guy and be a man to his face if you want the smoke … not tweet it at him … Tough guy.”Isbell didn’t seem phased by Owen’s message, revealing, “What really gets me about this is that it’s saying, ‘If you don’t believe you can physically overpower me, you aren’t allowed to publicly disagree with me.’ What does that say to the people in your life who aren’t big strong boys?

They just have to shut up?”Owen didn’t directly respond to Isbell’s last tweet, but he did clarify why Isbell’s dig at Aldean’s inability to write his own songs hit home.“I’ve spent my entire career trying to promote