Jason Isbell never hesitates to express himself, in his Grammy-winning music or on Twitter.

Whether he’s cracking jokes or weighing on a hot-button political issue, the Alabama-born singer/songwriter makes his presence known on social media, even if that means a spat with a fellow recording artist like Jason Aldean, or a fellow country star who has his back.

Aldean’s controversial music video for the single “Try That in a Small Town” has received considerable backlash, with CMT even pulling the it from the air this week. The Washington Post notes the video combines news footage of Black Lives Matter protests, violence and crime with lyrics like this: “Try that in a small town/ See how far ya make it down the road/ Around here, we take care of our own.”

Aldean tweeted a statement on Tuesday in response to the backlash. “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,” he wrote. “These references are not only meritless, but dangerous. There is not a single lyric in the song that references race or points to it- and there isn’t a single video clip that isn’t real news footage -and while I can try and respect others to have their own interpretation of a song with music- this one goes too far.” Read the full statement.

This prompted Isbell to tweet the following on Wednesday: “Dare Aldean to write his next single himself. That’s what we try in my small town.”

His response drew the ire from country music star Jake Owen, who also chimed in on Twitter Thursday, quoting Isbell’s tweet. “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.”

A Twitter user asked Owen, “Then why didn’t you walk up to him and say this to his face?” to which the Florida-born singer replied in a quote-tweet, “Oh I have. I hit him up directly on his phone last time he said some silly nonsense like this. He knows.”

Isbell then quoted Owen’s first tweet and wrote, “I tried to tag him but it looks like his account has been suspended. Y’all are the tough guys! I’m just a songwriter.” This tweet included a screenshot showing the account @JasonAldean had been suspended, but the country singer’s official account is actually @Jason_Aldean, as users pointed out. “Oh I didn’t realize he had to have an underscore in his profile name hahaha,” Isbell then wrote in a tweet.

Then the Green Hill native doubled-down with a tweet tagging the correct account: “Ok here ya go @Jason_Aldean I’m challenging you to write a song yourself. All alone. If you’re a recording artist, make some art. I want to hear it.”

Isbell later quoted his own tweet, further criticizing industry songwriting practices. “Seriously how do you defend the content of a song you weren’t even in the room for? You just got it from your producer. If you’d been there when it was written, you’d be listed as a writer. We all know how this works.”

Isbell again quoted Owen’s tweet, writing “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?”

This isn’t the first time Isbell has traded barbs with another musician on the app. In 2021, the Alabama native’s move to require stringent COVID countermeasures at his shows led to a terse exchange with fellow songwriter Marc Broussard, who accused Isbell of being an elitist and who drew Isbell’s scorn for being a fool. After Isbell announced fans would need proof of vaccination to attend his shows, Broussard tweeted this: “‘The unclean may not attend. The poor may not attend. The ignorant may not attend.’ Who knew Jason was so bourgois? Thought he was a blue collar type of guy. Never met him so I can’t say for sure but yeah, this is some elitist ish here, fella.”

Isbell responded, “All your shows free Marc, or do you sell tickets? Man f— back off to the bar with this s—. I hope they turn the TVs off for you while you play.”

MORE: Jason Isbell mulls future in politics: ‘I have considered it’

Isbell recently performed back-to-back shows at Avondale Brewing Company.

Aldean is set to perform two shows in Alabama in 2023, at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater on Sunday, Aug. 6; and at the Wharf Amphitheater in Orange Beach on Saturday, Aug. 26.

More on Jason Isbell:

‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ trailer: First look at Jason Isbell in new Scorsese film

Jason Isbell adds Alabama concert date and here’s how to get tickets early

The story behind Jason Isbell’s surprising new album and his new touring musicians

Thought you knew Jason Isbell’s story? You don’t know the half of it

Jason Isbell’s ‘Vestavia Hills’: Read full lyrics to Alabama native’s song from new album