Jason Aldean Honors Route 91 Victims in ACM Speech

From Country Living

Jason Aldean's new song may be called "You Make It Easy," but the country star hasn't had what you'd call an easy year. In October, he was performing on stage at the Route 91 Harvest festival in Las Vegas when a gunman opened fire, killing 58 people and wounding hundreds.

That's why his Entertainer of the Year win at the Academy of Country Music Awards, also in Las Vegas, is even more meaningful-and the singer was sure to honor the victims of the tragedy in his acceptance speech.

After thanking his record company and management, Aldean thanked his wife, Brittany Aldean, and his three “good luck charms," Keeley (15) and Kendyl (10) his daughters from his first marriage to Jessica Ussery Aldean, and Memphis, his four-month-old son with Brittany.

But it was his next statement that nearly moved the artist-and everyone in the audience-to tears.

"It's been a rough year," he said. "I just wanna say thanks for everybody who reached out to us, who showed us love and support over the last six months. It meant the world to us. To my Route 91 people, you guys are in our hearts always. I love you guys."

The musician dedicated his new album, Rearview Town, to the victims, and after rehearsals for the awards show, he spent time with survivors.

After the tragedy, Aldean also visited victims and released a Tom Petty cover of "I Won't Back Down" and donated the proceeds to survivors.

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