Country Star Jason Aldean Visits Las Vegas Victims Shot During His Performance
Country music singer Jason Aldean returned to Las Vegas, Nevada, one week after the deadliest U.S. massacre in modern history, which occurred during his performance.
Gunman Stephen Paddock killed 58 people and injured 489 when he unleashed gunfire onto the crowd attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival while Aldean was performing on Oct. 1. One week later, the country music singer visited the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada to meet with victims.
Aldean's wife, Brittany Aldean, opened up about the surreal experience on Monday.
"Feels surreal being back in Vegas today. Visiting some of the strongest people we have ever met... fighting the toughest battle of them all... for their lives," she wrote on Instagram. "You have helped us try to begin the healing process by seeing the strength each one of you have. Thank you for today."
She added, "We will never forget. #vegasstrong."
The University Medical Center also posted a message about the experience on its Facebook page, revealing that Aldean's visit encouraged those shot at the country music festival just a week before.
"Our extreme gratitude to Country Music Star Jason Aldean for visiting UMC today," says the message posted on Sunday. "Jason spent time with our patients who were critically injured during the Las Vegas shooting. His visit helped heal hearts and cheer those who were wounded in this tragedy."
After the shooting, Aldean took to Instagram to reveal the "fear, anger, heartache and compassion" that he was feeling. Still, he called for people to come together in the face of tragedy.
"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," he wrote. "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!"