A new folk song by an unknown artist has propelled Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” to the top of a country music chart after an acoustic performance of the song went viral.
Virginia native Oliver Anthony’s blue-collar anthem ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’ rose to internet fame last week after YouTube channel Radio WV shared Anthony’s impassioned performance on their channel. . The politically charged song, explaining the frustrations felt by blue-collar workers with corrupt politicians in Washington, has racked up millions of views on YouTube and X, the platform previously known as Twitter.
Within days, the song skyrocketed to the top of the iTunes country chart, “surpassing former chart leader, ‘Try That in a Small Town’ by Jason Aldean”, Billboard reported.
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The blue-collar ballad released Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” from the no. 1 spot on iTunes country list.
“Rich Men North of Richmond” denounces high taxes and greedy Washington politicians who “just want total control.” His lyrics compare starving “street people” to “obese” Americans abusing the welfare system and lament the epidemic of suicide among young men.
“Well my God, if you’re 5-foot-3 and weigh 300 pounds, taxes shouldn’t be paying for your bags of fudge,” Anthony sings. “Young men are putting themselves six feet under, because the whole fucking country just keeps knocking them down.”
The song resonated with many listeners, who shared personal stories of what the song meant to them.
One person responded to the Radio WV video saying, “I’m a 39-year-old Iraqi vet and construction worker, struggling like a dog to care for two kids and run a farm when I’m not working. 11 hours a day. hit so hard today I had to stop my old peterbilt and rip it up. Preach brother.
Another person called the song “an anthem for over 80 million Americans who have been defamed, ignored, mocked, slandered and robbed by their own government.”
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The dome of the United States Capitol. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc)
“You speak for millions of us. I’ve been waiting for you Oliver,” another person praised.
“As the granddaughter of a coal miner, I hear you. I understand. This gives me chills and tears. Good job,” one woman wrote.
On X, formerly known as Twitter, conservative commentators, politicians and other musicians also praised the song.
“Now THIS is a real McCoy!” country singer John Rich posted.
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares shared, “What a beautiful song and unreal talent from Virginia.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., also wrote “This is the message Washington needs to hear because this is how our people really think and feel.”
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Conservative influencer Jason Howerton also posted a Twitter thread detailing the Virginia singer’s personal story of what led him to write the song.
“In the past, Oliver had mental health issues and coped with alcohol. In the depths of despair, just about a month ago, Oliver got down on his knees and burst into tears. Although ‘he is not a religious man, that night he promised God to get sober if he would help him achieve his dream,’ Howerton wrote. “Oliver had been sober for about 30 days when someone contacted him and asked him to come and record a song for his YouTube channel. That song was ‘Rich Men North of Richmond’. Within days the song went VIRAL on social media.”
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Fox News’ Gabriel Hays and Houston Keene contributed to this report.