No, he won’t back down. Jason Aldean is still rallying for the victims of the Las Vegas shooting. Earlier this month, the Aldean stopped by Saturday Night Live to perform his cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.” Now, the country music veteran has released the cover to help raise even more money for the cause. All proceeds from the song will go to the Direct Impact Fund to help the survivors and families of victims.
The “I Won’t Back Down” cover is now available across digital platforms like Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon, Google Play, Tidal, Pandora, and more. It’s a moving tribute to both Las Vegas and Tom Petty, who passed away the day after the tragedy.
The Las Vegas shooting took place at Mandalay Bay Resort during Aldean’s performance at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. When people realized something was wrong, he immediately left the stage.
“This week, we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history,” Aldean said during the SNL cold open. “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 gonna 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.”
Here’s Aldean’s moving tribute.
Aldean canceled a series of concerts immediately after the shooting, but returned to the tour on October 12 with a show in Tulsa Oklahoma. According to Entertainment Weekly, he hosted a show “that everyone in Las Vegas went to see but didn’t get a chance to.”