Jason Aldean, In Surprise Opening On SNL, Pays Tribute To Las Vegas Shooting Victims

Jason Aldean, the country music singer whose show in Las Vegas was the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, returned to the stage for a surprise cold open on Saturday Night Live delivering a somber monologue that paid tribute to the victims of the shooting and their loved ones. Aldean then performed a cover of the song "I Won't Back Down" by Tom Petty, paying homage to the legendary rocker who died Monday after going into cardiac arrest.

"I'm Jason Aldean, this week we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history," Aldean said. "Like everyone, I'm struggling to understand what happened that night and how to pick up the pieces and start to heal.

"So many people are hurting, there are children, parents, brothers, sisters, friends, they're all part of our family. So I wanna say to them we hurt for you and we hurt with you but you can be sure that we're gonna walk through these tough times together, every step of the way.

"Because when American is at its best, our bond and our spirit, it's unbreakable," the singer said in closing.

In choosing Aldean for the opening, SNL departed from partisan politics and the skits that usually take jabs at President Trump.

The shooting in Las Vegas left 58 people dead and injured hundreds. The shooter, identified as 64-year-old Stephen Paddock, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities have still been unable to identify a motive in the shooting.

The Victims Of The Las Vegas Shooting

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