In a recent interview on the Armchair Expert podcast, country singer Jason Aldean disclosed his emotional turmoil following the tragic Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting in Las Vegas in 2017. This incident, which claimed the lives of 60 individuals and left over 800 injured, had a profound impact on Aldean, who was performing on stage when the shooting occurred.
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Despite the passage of nearly eight years since that fateful day, Aldean revealed that the trauma of the shooting had a lasting effect on him. Recalling the events of that night, Aldean described it as a festival like any other they had performed at before but one that took a tragic turn unexpectedly. The singer shared the chaos and confusion that ensued in the aftermath of the shooting, with details unfolding slowly and the weight of the situation sinking in.
Following the shooting, Aldean embarked on a whirlwind of activities, including reuniting with his family, performing on Saturday Night Live shortly after the incident, and visiting victims in the hospital. Amidst these obligations, Aldean also continued his tour, which posed its own set of challenges as he grappled with processing the trauma he had experienced.
The birth of his son, Memphis, two months after the shooting provided Aldean with a much-needed distraction and focus during a tumultuous time. However, the weight of the tragedy and the close call with potential loss eventually caught up with the singer, leading to a poignant moment of vulnerability and reflection in his own home.
Aldean admitted to experiencing a ‘breakdown’ as he confronted the reality of what could have been, reflecting on the lives lost and the impact on his inner circle. He acknowledged the difficulty in expressing his emotions openly at the time, highlighting the complexities of dealing with such trauma and the conflicting feelings of relief and guilt that followed.
While Aldean opted not to seek professional therapy following the shooting, he emphasized the importance of support from his family, band members, and close associates in processing their shared experience. The singer acknowledged that the incident had forever connected him to the city of Las Vegas and expressed a desire to channel this connection into a positive outcome, aiming to use the tragedy as a catalyst for growth and resilience.
Looking ahead, Aldean expressed a willingness to return to Las Vegas for future performances, potentially in the form of residencies, as he navigates his healing journey and seeks to find meaning in the aftermath of the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting. The singer’s candid reflections offer a glimpse into the psychological toll of such traumatic events and the long-lasting impact they can have on individuals, even years after the initial incident.