Jason Aldean Shares Tribute To Las Vegas Shooting Victims On 7th Anniversary Of The Tragedy
on Oct 01, 2024
Tuesday, October 1, 2024, Is The 7th Anniversary Of The Route 91 Harvest Festival Shooting
Seven years ago today (October 1), a gunman opened fire on a group of country music fans watching Jason Aldean perform at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas. 58 people were killed, and hundreds were injured, making it the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
The shots rang out in the middle of Jason’s set. He recently sat down with Tucker Carlson to share his memories of that tragic night.
“I just kind of heard something that sounded like it was cracking, but it was the gun going off. It was coming through the microphones, and it just sounded weird. But I didn’t know what it was,” Jason said.
Jason only realized what was going on after removing his ear monitors. After that, the first words out of his mouth were, “Where’s Britt?“
His wife, Brittany Aldean, accompanied him to Vegas. She was pregnant with their son, Memphis, at the time.
Photo Credit: Brittany Aldean / Instagram
Jason found Brittany, and they waited for a break in the shooting before running to their bus. “We got about halfway there, then he started shooting again. She kind of froze up and I grabbed her and took her to the bus, got in the back of the bus,” he told Tucker.
Later, Jason discovered there were “bullet holes” in his and his crew’s buses, and a bullet lodged in his bass player’s bass.
“The toughest part was going through all that and then you get home and you’re watching the news trying to figure out, why did this guy do this? What was his reasoning? Why this show?” Jason said.
Jason Aldean Says “This Day Never Gets Easier” In Tribute To Vegas Shooting Victims
After Jason returned home, Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels asked if he’d come perform on the show. Jason agreed and honored the victims of the Las Vegas shooting by performing a cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.”
Tom Petty passed away on October 2, the day after the Route 91 shooting.
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In the seven years that have passed since the Vegas shooting, Jason has continued to honor and remember the victims. On the seventh anniversary of that heartbreaking day, the singer shared a tribute to his “Route 91 family” on social media.
He posted a picture of the festival’s lineup poster from that year, captioning it:
“7 years later and this day never gets easier. Sending love out to everybody in the Route 91 family today. We love yall!”
Jason’s followers thanked him for remembering the victims, commenting:
“My niece was there with her boyfriend and they worked their way up to the stage to see you and sadly her boyfriend was shot saving my niece and he didn’t make it. Thank you for always remembering.”
“Thinking of all of my Route 91 Family. I can’t believe it’s been 7 years. Sometimes it feels like yesterday.”
“remember that day like it was yesterday…so insane, RIP to all those lives lost”
“Thank you for never forgetting us…”
“Prayers for those lost and comfort and peace for the survivors!! Country Strong!!”
You can watch Jason Aldean’s full interview with Tucker Carlson about the Vegas shooting in the video below.
