Jason Aldean on ‘Small Town’ controversy: ‘Didn’t expect things to blow up like they did’
FOX News' Ainsley Earhardt sits down with country music artist Jason Aldean to discuss his upcoming album and the controversy surrounding his song 'Try That In A Small Town' on 'FOX & Friends.'
Family means everything to Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan.
The country music icons praised their children and traded fatherhood advice in a new interview with Hook & Barrel while gathering with a few of their famous friends of Buck Commander at Bryan's farm near Nashville, Tennessee.
When the guys were asked about teaching "boys to be men before the world teaches them otherwise," Aldean admitted, "You’re a product of your environment."
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![Buckmen Jason Aldean and Luke Bryan](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/01/1200/675/jason-aldean-luke-bryan-dads.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Jason Aldean, left, and Luke Bryan shared fatherhood advice with the Buckmen. (Getty Images)
"The home and the parents are the biggest part of that. You lead by example," he told Hook & Barrel. "Being a parent and trying to navigate what’s going on in the world is extremely tough right now. I mean my kids are about to start school and with how things are, I don’t even want to do that."
Aldean and wife Brittany are proud parents to one son, Memphis, and a daughter named Navy. The "Got What I Got" singer also has two daughters, Kendyl and Keely, from his previous marriage.
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Bryan, who has sons Bo and Tate with wife Caroline Boyer, said he often reflected on how his kids were watching his every move.
![Jason Aldean shares a laugh with Luke Bryan](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/01/1200/675/jason-aldean-luke-bryan.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Jason Aldean believed that kids are a product of their environment. (Hook & Barrel)
![Jason Aldean and Brittany Aldean](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/07/1200/675/aldeans.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Jason and Brittany Aldean were married in 2015 and have two children together. (Jason Kempin)
"Just last week I had to tell one of my boys, ‘I know you have seen me do this… but that doesn’t mean you do it.’ But it all starts with the father in the home — they lean on us as the example," Bryan said. "I did it with my dad. I mean my wife tells me once a week, ‘You sound like your daddy.’ When I know I have a hunting trip coming up, my dad used to do it too, my gear is all laid out perfectly and ready to go — I do it the same way he did it, and now my boys do it too."
He added, "I think too, through all their good days and bad, you have to uplift them. To teach them to cut themselves some slack.
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"I have seen this world put pressures on my boys that I never even thought about when I was a kid. Especially in my case, just because they are my children, I have to sit them down and remind that it will be ok."
![Luke Bryan poses for a photo with wife Caroline Boyer](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/08/1200/675/luke-bryan-wife.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Luke Bryan and wife Caroline Boyer have two sons. (Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)
The "American Idol" judge said he believes in "positive reinforcement and being stern with them. Also, they watch the way I treat my wife. When they see me wrap my arms around my wife, and love on her, they associate that with the way you show affection — they pick up on all of that."
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When Aldean was asked how he showed his kids love now that they are a little older, he simply gave them the gift of time.
"I have two older daughters that got into volleyball. I didn’t know anything about volleyball. I wanted them to play softball," Aldean recalled. "But, I went to games and learned as much I could about volleyball, and we talked about it. For this group it’s hard. We all travel so much. When I am with them, I take as much advantage of it as I can.
![Buckmen members chat about family and fatherhood](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/01/1200/675/the-buckmen.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The Buckmen include Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Willie Robertson, Tyler Farr, Adam LaRoche, Ryan Langerhans, Tombo Martin and Ryan Busbice. (Hook & Barrel)
"When I am at home, I don’t hang out much. I spend time with my family. I may sneak out to hunt [chuckles] from time to time. But for the most part, I am there with my family giving them my undivided attention."
The Buckmen includes "Duck Dynasty" star Willie Robertson, Tyler Farr, Adam LaRoche, Ryan Langerhans, Tombo Martin and Ryan Busbice.