Three years ago today…
Three years ago today, a lunatic gunman rained bullets onto country music fans at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, killing 58 before turning the gun on himself. Countless others were injured and many still struggle with the emotional effects of experience the deadliest mass shooting in American history.
And for Brittany Aldean, whose husband was on stage when the bullets started flying, it’s still a nightmare she is trying to forget.
Brittany reflected on the horrific day with an emotional Instagram post:
“ROUTE 91. On one hand it seems like an eternity ago, a nightmare you try to forget. On the other hand it’s vividness makes it seem like it was yesterday. 3 years ago… I was 8 months pregnant (had Memphis 2 months to the day from the shooting) and my husband was prepping like any other day to entertain thousands of fans. I used to live in Vegas so I had a bunch of friends at the show… little did we know our lives would change forever.
The sound, the chaos, the overwhelming sadness and heartache… it’s something that never leaves you. They call us the “Route 91 Family” in my opinion because we are forever bonded. An experience that thankfully only certain people know. We have LOVED meeting so many of you who were effected on this day, years ago. Our hearts still break for the families who lost a loved one. We are thinking of each and every one of you today, and everyday… and to the men and women who ran towards the bullets to protect all of us… WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL.”
Shortly after, Aldean adopted Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” as an anthemic comeback song of sorts. He performed the song on Saturday Night Live but it went on to become a staple in his live show.
A few weeks after Route 91, he performed it in Louisville, Kentucky, with this powerful introduction.
