Country music star Jason Aldean has canceled three upcoming shows in Southern California as a result of Sunday night’s deadly mass shoo…
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Country music star Jason Aldean has canceled three upcoming shows in Southern California as a result of Sunday night’s deadly mass shooting in Las Vegas.
Aldean was onstage performing when 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire on concert-goers attending the Route 91 Harvest, the outdoor country music festival taking place across the street from the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. At least 59 people were killed and 500 more were injured.
He and his band were quickly removed from the stage as the panicked crowd dispersed. Aldean touched base with his fans on Instagram shortly after the incident, but fleshed out his sentiments more fully Tuesday.
FULL COVERAGE: Massacre in Las Vegas
„I feel like out of respect for the victims, their families and our fans, it is the right thing to do,“ the musician said in a statement. „It has been an emotional time for everyone involved this week, so we plan to take some time to mourn the ones we have lost and be close with our family and friends.“
Shows scheduled for Oct. 6,7 and 8 in Los Angeles, San Diego and Anaheim have been canceled. Refunds will be available at point of purchase.
Aldean, 40, and his band plan to resume the „They Don’t Know Tour“ on Oct. 12 in Tulsa, Okla.
„Our first time back onstage will be a very tough and emotional thing for us, but we will all get through it together and honor the people we lost by doing the only thing we know how to do — play our songs for them. I hope everyone understands why we can’t play this weekend and I’m sorry if anyone is disappointed.“
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Aldean said he was grateful for the „outpouring of love“ from friends and fans over the last couple days.
„You guys have no idea how much you have helped get us through this tough time,“ he said.
The announcement came hours after Aldean shared an emotional note on social media in an effort to unite the nation. Fear, anger, heartache and compassion were among the emotions he said he’d felt since the Sunday massacre rocked Las Vegas and beyond.
The „Burnin‘ It Down“ crooner decried the mass shooting as a „senseless act“ and urged people to „come together to stop the hate.“
„Something has changed in this country and in this world lately that is scary to see. This world is becoming the kind of place I am afraid to raise my children in,“ Aldean said. „At the end of the day, we aren’t Democrats or Republicans, Whites or Blacks, Men or Women. We are all humans and we are all Americans and it’s time to start acting like it and stand together as ONE!“
That, he said, is the only way to make America „better than it has ever been, but we have a long way to go and we have to start now.“
