Jason Aldean Opens Up About Mental Health Struggles After Las Vegas Shooting
Jason Aldean recently shared his experience of facing a significant “breakdown” several months after the tragic events at the 2017 Las Vegas music festival.
“We were just doing a festival, like we had done countless times before,” Aldean mentioned during a podcast. “But this was clearly something we were not prepared for.” On October 1, 2017, while he was performing at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, a shooter opened fire from his hotel room, resulting in the deaths of 60 individuals and injuring over 800 others.
Reflecting on the aftermath, Aldean recalled, “We finally got out of the house the next day. You just feel relieved to be home. It was overwhelming for my family, especially since my oldest daughter thought we were in danger.” The confusion of that time was intense as details continued to emerge.
Aldean quickly dove back into his career, performing on “SNL” just days after the incident, and returned to Las Vegas to honor the victims. “I remember flying back to Vegas that Sunday morning, heading to the hospital to see the victims. That was really tough,” he recounted. “Many people were still fighting their injuries.”
Two months following the shooting, Aldean’s wife gave birth to their first child together, which he described as a turning point. “Suddenly, we had something else to focus on at home instead of the headlines,” he said. However, he noted that the emotional weight became heavier after his son was born. “At home, I broke down, reflecting on all the lives lost—fans, friends, family—while celebrating the arrival of my son.”
Despite the survivor’s guilt he felt, Aldean opted not to pursue formal treatment. Instead, he relied on support from his family and friends. “I guess that was my way of coping,” he recalled. “It’s a bit ironic because we funded a lot of treatment for our crew and others affected.” His time with family, friends, and band members became his informal therapy, providing a space to openly discuss and process the trauma together.
