Sales of Jason Aldean’s “SNL” Performance of “I Won’t Back Down” Will Benefit Las Vegas Shooting Victims

by Jim Casey | @TheJimCasey | October 20, 2017

After a gunman killed 58 people and injured close to 500 while Jason Aldean was onstage in Las Vegas on Oct. 1, Jason opened Saturday Day Night on Oct. 7 with a message of hope before performing a cover of Tom Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down.”

Jason’s cover of “I Won’t Back Down” is now available across digital retailers and streaming services, with all proceeds going to the Direct Impact Fund to benefit victims of the Las Vegas shooting.

“I’m Jason Aldean,” said Jason from the SNL stage. “This week, we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in American history. 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—they’re our 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. You can be sure that we are 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.”

Jason performed “I Won’t Back Down,” a song made famous by Tom Petty, who passed away on Oct. 2. After his performance, Jason opened the show by saying “Live from New York, it’s Saturday night.”

Blogs

On Wednesday (April 30), Eric Church announced the dates and details of his 2025 Free The Machine Tour of North America. The 22-date arena tour starts in Pittsburgh on September 12 and finishes in Los Angeles on November 15, hitting cities like Philadelphia, Boston, Detroit, and Seattle along the way. Church will be joined by…

Eric Church Announces 2025 Free The Machine North American Tour

Prior to being honored during Variety’s Power of Women: Nashville event, Jessi Alexander spoke with the publication about her journey from fledgling artist to blockbuster country songwriter. Alexander broke gender stereotypes in the Music Row writers' rooms by penning chart-topping hits like Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck,” Miranda Lambert’s “Things That Break,” Blake Shelton’s…

Jessi Alexander Shares Her Journey From Fledgling Artist To Hit Country Songwriter

Prior to being honored during Variety’s Power of Women: Nashville event, Jessi Alexander spoke with the publication about her journey from fledgling artist to blockbuster country songwriter. Alexander broke gender stereotypes in the Music Row writers’ rooms by penning chart-topping hits like Lee Brice’s “I Drive Your Truck,” Miranda Lambert’s “Things That Break,” Blake Shelton’s…

Nashville-based label Big Loud, home to Morgan Wallen, has reportedly sold a minority stake in the country superstar’s master recordings to Chord Music Partners for over $200 million. The deal is for a minority holding in Wallen’s first three studio albums, which includes his blockbuster 2023 double album, One Thing at a Time. The deal…

Minority Stake In Morgan Wallen’s Catalog Sold By Big Loud For $200 Million

The 2025 ACM Awards will begin with a 12-minute music showcase honoring ACM Award-winning Songs of the Year over six decades. The segment will feature Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland, and will likely include hit songs like “Tequila,” “Why Not Me,” “Blue,” and “Stay” in the medley.…

2025 ACM Awards Will Open With 12-Minute “Songs Of The Decades’ Medley, With Special Collaborations Planned During Ceremony

Lainey Wilson will make her feature film debut in the Universal adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, Reminders of Him. The Grammy-winning country superstar will join a star-studded cast that includes Maika Monroe, Tyriq Withers, Rudy Pankow, and Lauren Graham, with the film set to be directed by Vanessa Caswill. This won’t be Wilson’s first…