Country music superstar Jason Aldean was performing at Las Vegas’ Route 91 Harvest Festival on October 1st when a lone gunman killed 58 concertgoers and injured hundreds of others. The entertainer sat down with Sunday TODAY with Willie Geist to discuss the personal aftermath of the tragedy that rocked the country music world and the entire nation.
“When somebody buys a ticket to our show or comes into an arena to watch you play, you know, we want them to come, have fun, get home safe, and come see us the next time we’re in town. I mean, the last thing we’re thinking is they’re gonna show up and never leave,” Aldean shared during the emotional interview.
After realizing the sounds he heard were gunshots, the Georgia native quickly exited the stage to locate his very pregnant wife, Brittany. The couple would welcome son Memphis exactly two months after the violent mass shooting.
“It definitely was scary. I think about, like, on one hand, I hate that she was there to have to experience it. On the other hand, it’s like I know if she was at home and saw it on the news, she would have freaked out, and I don’t know what would have been worse,” the star admitted.
After the massacre, Jason and Brittany returned to Las Vegas to visit victims in the hospital and show their support.
“I think in the weeks that followed that … it was a lot of different emotions going on for me and, you know, guilt, anger and a lot of other things,” the “Drowns The Whiskey” singer confessed.
“I know in my heart that it’s not my fault that that happened, but it still doesn’t keep you from feeling a little guilty that, you know, people were there for you,” he added.
The senseless violence has certainly left its mark on Aldean, but he doesn’t want the events of that fateful night to rule his actions moving forward.
“That’s not something I want on my résumé for the rest of my life,” Aldean shared. “For me, it’s something that — not that I want to forget — but it’s just something that I choose to not relive over and over.”
Watch the full interview below!
In September, Aldean is scheduled to perform during the iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Hopefully that event will help bring additional healing to the country star.
Jason Aldean’s 2018 Tour Schedule
SEP 2 JACKSONVILLE, FL, US EverBank Field
SEP 6 MACON, GA, US Macon Coliseum
SEP 7 NASHVILLE, TN, US Bridgestone Arena
SEP 8 RALEIGH, NC, US Coastal Credit Union Music Park
SEP 13 CINCINNATI, OH, US Riverbend Music Center
SEP 14 CLARKSTON, MI, US DTE Energy Music Theatre
SEP 15 TORONTO, ON, CA Budweiser Stage
SEP 20 SAN DIEGO, CA, US Mattress Firm Amphitheatre
SEP 21 LAS VEGAS, NV, US iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena
SEP 22 SAN BERNARDINO, CA, US Glen Helen Amphitheater
SEP 27 WHEATLAND, CA, US Toyota Amphitheatre
SEP 28 MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, US Shoreline Amphitheatre
SEP 29 IRVINE, CA, US FivePoint Amphitheatre
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