Jason Aldean Says the Birth of His Son Helped Him Tour Again After Route 91 Tragedy

Nearly five months after the worst mass shooting in American history, country star Jason Aldean described how close he was to losing a bandmate that night during a recent interview with The Highway’s Storme Warren, who was also on the ground at the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas during the attack.

Aldean and his band members had already taken the stage on October 1, 2017, for their headlining set at the country music festival when a gunman at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino opened fire, killing 58 and injuring more than 500 people. Aldean recalled thinking that a speaker had blown when he first heard the gunshots, before realizing that his bandmates had begun taking cover.

Aldean’s bass guitarist, Tully Kennedy, was nearly struck by a bullet. Luckily, his bass guitar shielded him from being wounded.

In the aftermath of the shooting, Aldean credits the birth of his son, Memphis, as a major factor in his emotional recovery.

Four months after the tragedy, the country singer’s decision to tour again does not come without hesitation, but his dedication to his fans is paramount. He will embark this summer on the High Noon Neon Tour, which opens May 10 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, MO.