Jason Aldean cold opens ‘SNL’ with tributes to Las Vegas shooting victims and Tom Petty
Leading up to the one-week anniversary of the Las Vegas shootings massacre and the death of singer / songwriter Tom Petty, “Saturday Night Live” opened its show on October 7 with a timely and dramatic cold open. The show started in silence as the lights came up exposing country western singer Jason Aldean on the “SNL” stage with his band. Aldean was on stage one week earlier at the Route 91 Festival in Las Vegas when gunman Stephen Paddock fired upon the concert crowd killing at least 58 people and injuring more than 500 more. Aldean opened the “SNL” show by saying, “This week we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history. 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 want to say to them: we hurt for you and we hurt with you. But you can be sure we’re going to walk through these tough times together, every step of the way, because when America is at its best, our bond and our spirit, it’s unbreakable.” ~ Jason Aldean on “Saturday Night Live,” 10/07/2017
Aldean then performed his rendition of Tom Petty’s classic rock anthem “I Won’t Back Down.” Petty passed away in his Malibu home the day after the Las Vegas shootings from a heart attack at the age of 66. Following that musical tribute to Petty, Aldean officially opened the show by looking into the camera and proclaiming “Live from New York… It’s Saturday night!”
(Cover image credit: Screen shot, Saturday Night Live / Youtube)
https://youtu.be/4RRCbVBCRBE
Written by: Ace News Today Staff
