Saturday Night Live paid tribute to the 58 victims gunned down in Las Vegas last week with the late Tom Petty’s classic song, “I Won’t Back Down,” performed during the cold opening by Jason Aldean.
Aldean was onstage at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas when a shooter opened fire from a room in the Mandalay Bay Casino situated across the street from the venue.
“This week we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history,” Aldean said before beginning his performance on Saturday (Oct 7). “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,” Aldean added. “There are children, parents, brothers, sisters, friends–they’re all part of our family. So I want to say to them. ‘We hurt for you. And we hurt with you. But you can be sure that we’re going to walk through these tough times together every step of the way.’
“Because when America is at its best,” said Alden. “Our bond and our spirit–it’s unbreakable.”
Watch the performance below.
https://youtu.be/4RRCbVBCRBE
