It's been a busy weekend for country crooner Jason Aldean, who opened "Saturday Night Live" with a performance and tribute to victims of the Las Vegas shooting on October 1. The 40-year old singer was performing at the Route 91 Harvest Festival when a man by the name of Stephen Paddock began firing at the crowd from his 32nd-floor hotel room at the Mandalay Bay. On Sunday, Aldean performed the late Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down" as a tribute to both victims of the shooting and to Petty, who passed away on October 2. During the opening monologue, the singer sent a message to the victims of the massacre, saying, "You can be sure that we’re going to walk through these tough times together, every step of the way.
When America is at its best, our bond and our spirit, it’s unbreakable."
Singer heads back to Nevada
Following his "Saturday Night Live" performance, Jason Aldean spent his Sunday with his pregnant wife, Brittany Kerr Aldean, in Las Vegas, where he visited survivors of the devastating event. Kerr Aldean took to Instagram to share a few thoughts about his visit, writing that it felt "surreal" to be back in and that they were able to visit some of the "strongest people we have ever met, fighting the toughest battle of them all...for their lives." She added that their strength helped others "begin the healing process" after the Las Vegas shooting.
Hospital shares gratitude
Jason Aldean and his wife Brittany Kerr Aldean visited the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, where they spoke with survivors of the Las Vegas shooting.
The hospital's official Facebook page shared a photo of the singer, thanking him for his visit. The caption expressed their "extreme gratitude" for Aldean's visit and read that the singer "spent time with our patients who were critically injured during the Las Vegas shooting. His visit helped heal hearts and cheer those who were wounded in this tragedy."
Performer cancels concerts
Just days after the Las Vegas shooting, Jason Aldean canceled a series of tour dates, out of respect for the victims of the massive tragedy.
According to PEOPLE, the singer acknowledged the "emotional time" and that he wanted to "take some time to mourn" the victims of the killing. His tour will resume this Thursday, at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and will take him to Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, South Carolina, Mississippi, and Los Angeles throughout the rest of the month.
