Overview

• He was performing at the Route 91 Harvest Festival when a gunman killed 60 people and injured more than 800 on Oct. 1, 2017.
• Aldean said the emotional crash came at home after his son’s birth, describing the weight of delayed processing.
• He recounted survivor’s guilt, noting his band escaped injury and that a bullet was later found lodged in his bassist’s instrument.
• In the immediate aftermath, he opened Saturday Night Live, flew back to Las Vegas to visit hospitalized victims, and then finished a month of tour dates.
• He said the tragedy will always link him to Las Vegas and expressed interest in returning for future residencies.