Jason Aldean recently opened up in an interview with Fox News about how he’s proud to be an American. “I think being American to me just means freedom,” said the country singer. “We live in the best country in the world. I mean, there’s a reason that everybody else wants to be here and wants to come here,” he said. “It’s because they don’t have what we have. And so, I’m still very proud of that and proud of our country, even though sometimes it gets a little sideways and a little hard to recognize sometimes.”

Aldean believes America is still the same as it has always been, where anyone can be anything they want if they work hard. “But I think we live in the best country in the world,” he added. “I mean, we get the chance to go and still have the American dream. You can come from nothing and build something and make something out of your life, out of yourself and change your life, your family’s life. And I think we still have the ability to do that in this country, which is pretty cool,” he said. The country singer said the best piece of advice he’s ever received was from Toby Keith where he said, “never stop being patriotic.” “Just being not afraid to speak your mind, stand up for what you believe in,” Aldean said. “Whether other people agree with it or not, be who you are and be unapologetic about it. And I think that’s pretty good advice.” Last July, Aldean shared his patriotism while he was performing in Cincinnati. “I’ve seen a lot of stuff suggesting I’m this, suggesting I’m that,” he said in a clip shared on social media. “I feel everybody’s entitled to their opinion. You can think something all you want to, it doesn’t mean it’s true. What I am is a proud American. I’m proud to be from here. I love our country,” Aldean continued. “I want to see it restored to what it once was before all this bulls— started happening to us. I love my country. I love my family. And I will do anything to protect that.”