Three Country Stars Get The Last Laugh
Country music is having a moment, and it's more significant than it looks.
In what was a first since Billboard began charting music in 1958, three country stars - Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, and Luke Combs - topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart at the start of August, triumphing over rivals such as Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, and The Weeknd.
These achievements were more than just mere statistics. Each artist stood their ground against the vocal woke mob and they achieved success in spite of the opposition they faced. Through their success, fans are sending the woke mob a message - "you can't cancel country stars without our permission."
It all started with Aldean, who embraced right-leaning politics during the Trump years and wasn't afraid to express his views on contemporary issues, such as vaccine mandates and President Joe Biden's first term.
Aldean infuriated the woke left, particularly with his song “Try That in a Small Town” and the accompanying music video. The video was released in the spring but received a promotional boost in recent weeks, pushing the song to the top of the Billboard chart and giving voice to the rural Americans who rally behind country stars such as Aldean, Wallen, and Combs.
As Aldean and his cohorts climb the ladder of success, it's clear that these artists' views and their music are resonating with a large section of the population in America. It's also sending another powerful message, that country music is not to be silenced so easily.
For decades, country music has found itself at the intersection of American politics and pop culture, straddling two worlds that can often exist in harmony or in opposition. It's this power that is allowing country music stars to break records and send a message to those who want to remove country music and its traditional values from the American mainstream.
This is certainly a moment for country music and all of its fans, as the genre continues to make its mark in the American music landscape for years to come.
In 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. These references are not only meritless, but dangerous.…
— Jason Aldean (@Jason_Aldean) July 18, 2023