The country music community has seen plenty of uproar lately surrounding Jason Aldean's latest single "Try That in a Small Town." It began when country listeners and others on social media expressed concerns about the song, interpreting the lyrics as promoting violence or being racially charged. Artists have been getting in on the conversation as well, and a particularly fiery spat broke out between Jason Isbell and Jake Owen on Twitter.
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Interestingly, the debate between Isbell and Owens wasn't necessarily about the content of the song itself, but rather the validity of artists recording songs written by other people.
Isbell — a country/Americana artist who is known for speaking his mind on Twitter — addressed this angle in a tweet on Thursday, July 19, pointing to the fact that Aldean did not write the song himself.
"[I] dare Aldean to write his next single himself. That's what we try in my small town," Isbell wrote.
Isbell then addressed Aldean directly, issuing a challenge of sorts for the longtime country singer to write a song solo.
"Ok here ya go @Jason_Aldean I'm challenging you to write a song yourself," Isbell wrote. "All alone. If you're a recording artist, make some art. I want to hear it."
Dare Aldean to write his next single himself. That?s what we try in my small town
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) July 19, 2023
Owen then took to Twitter to defend Aldean, calling out Isbell for not confronting Aldean in person.
"Jason, you're always the first to get behind your keyboard and spout off with this stupid sh--," Owens wrote. "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."
Jason, you?re always the first to get behind your keyboard and spout off with this stupid shit. 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. https://t.co/Sm7jbD9HX3
— Jake Owen (@jakeowen) July 20, 2023
Meanwhile, some fans and other artists had fun in the comments, with country singer Ernest calling the exchange a "Barefoot Blue Jean Fight," referencing one of Owen's biggest hits.
Isbell shook off Owens' comment in another tweet.
"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,'" wrote Isbell. "What does that say to the people in your life who aren't big strong boys? They just have to shut up?"
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? https://t.co/MRL8trpgBl
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) July 20, 2023
Owens then issued a series of tweets clarifying his position and citing the importance of songwriters in country music.
"Being crass, I replied bc I was offended by @JasonIsbell insinuation that 'if you don't write your own songs, you're less than or not a real artist,'" Owens wrote. "I've had a record deal for almost 20 years. I feel deep down that I am a good writer. I've written a lot of songs, and recorded many of them. I'm just a fan of songs. I don't need to write everything in order to prove to myself or anyone that I'm a 'real artist.'"
He continued, mentioning some of country music's most legendary songs that were not written by the artist who sang them.
"If it wasn't for incredible songwriters, I know for a fact I wouldn't have had the career I have had," he writes. "I'm forever grateful for the many songwriters that have thought I was worthy enough to record their song. Their idea. I bet George Jones was grateful for Bobby Braddock and Curly Putman for a song called 'He Stopped Loving Her Today.'"
