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Sunday, October 8, 2017 5:45am ET by  

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Jason Aldean opens SNL with Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down"

Country singer-songwriter Jason Aldean made a surprise appearance on Saturday Night Live last night (October 7) when he opened the show with a moving version of Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down".

Aldean was the artist onstage at the Route 91 Festival when the Las Vegas massacre took place last Sunday (October 1). The legendary singer-songwriter and musician, Tom Petty, died after a cardiac arrest on Monday (October 2).

The "Dirt Road Anthem" singer opened the second episode of the NBC hit series with the following heartfelt monologue:

"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.

"We hurt for you and we hurt with you, but you can be sure we're going to 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".

58 people lost their lives and a further 500 were injured after a gunman shot into the masses from a Mandalay Bay Hotel room. 

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