Jason Aldean Confronts Six Years of Armchair Expert Expectations, Telling Dax Shepard He Won’t Back Down—Triggering One of the Podcast’s Wildest Backlashes Ever
In an unsurprising yet explosive pairing, conservative country music star Jason Aldean joined actor and liberal-leaning podcaster Dax Shepard on the Armchair Expert podcast for a special Labor Day drop. Shepard’s show, known for its deep dives into celebrity vulnerability and human struggles, has been on a run of interviewing country artists like Luke Combs, but the appearance by the famously outspoken Aldean ignited a firestorm of fan outrage in the comments section. The ensuing backlash marked one of the podcast’s wildest audience reactions.
Confronting the Political Divide
Shepard, who has spent over six years building a reputation for vulnerable, in-depth celebrity interviews, cautiously broached the political conversation by acknowledging Hollywood is “super liberal.” The host then asked Aldean about the emergence of more outspoken liberal artists in country music—like Jason Isbell, Maren Morris, and Kacey Musgraves—against the genre’s historically conservative backdrop. Aldean, who is firmly Republican, offered his viewpoint on differing ideologies:
“I think everybody (should) feel how they want to feel. I think you do your homework and you make your own opinions. And that’s fine… I don’t think we all have to agree. But when it comes to anything, I don’t think anyone wants things shoved down their throat. Just because you believe this, doesn’t mean this is wrong.”
He added that he is “always open for discussion,” but concluded: “But I’m pretty firm in what I believe, and it’s gonna take a lot to change that.”
The ‘Small Town’ Stance
As one might expect, the conversation quickly pivoted to the enormous political backlash Aldean faced over his controversial single, “Try That In A Small Town.” The “She’s Country” singer explained that he maintains there was no political motive behind the song, stating he simply wanted to share a message about people taking care of people. Crucially, Aldean reiterated his refusal to yield to critics, a stance that has become a defining characteristic of his career.
“If I know that I’m not wrong, you aren’t going to guilt me into (anything). If I feel like I’m in the wrong, I can see that. But if I’m not, you ain’t gonna get it out of me, ever.” Aldean dismissed the notion of appeasing those who already dislike him or his music. He stated that those individuals are “never gonna buy tickets to a show… so I’m not gonna waste any time worrying about it.”
The Backlash Over Softball Questions
The main source of the online hysteria wasn’t Aldean’s presence alone, but the perception that Shepard, who is viewed as left-leaning, did not sufficiently challenge the artist on his views. Fans in the comments section expressed deep disappointment, arguing that the interview lacked the usual hard-hitting scrutiny Dax often applies to his guests. The consensus among critics was that the conversation felt too “soft” and allowed Aldean to be vague without pushback, leading many longtime listeners to declare the episode a profound “lack of due diligence” by the usually probing host. The conversation—and the subsequent backlash—underscored the difficulty celebrities face in navigating the sharply polarized political landscape in the world of entertainment media.
