“His Legacy Will Live On Forever” – Jason Aldean Dedicates Detroit Performance Of “Try That In A Small Town” To Charlie Kirk

On Wednesday, September 10, conservative media personality and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at an event at Utah Valley University in what can only be described as a heinous act of political violence.

In the wake of his death, an outpouring of support came around the country from the likes of President Donald Trump, the New York Yankees, who held a moment of silence before their game Wednesday night, Joe Rogan, as well as a plethora of country stars, including Parker McCollum, John Rich, Kane Brown, Randy Houser and more.

As one of the most outspoken conservative voices in country music, Jason Aldean, in particular, was undoubtedly one of the most shaken by Kirk’s murder. As someone who has met Kirk on multiple occasions, the “She’s Country” singer took to Instagram Wednesday night to pen a tribute to the late political personality. Calling him one of the “kindest, smartest and bravest” people he knew, Aldean offered up prayers to his family, most notably his wife and two children who were left behind:

“It’s been a hard day not only in our family, but all over the country. Charlie Kirk was one of the kindest, smartest and bravest people I’ve ever met. I’m honored to have met and spoke with him on a few occasions. He was a man of peace and wanted nothing but the best for our country and its youth. We might have lost Charlie today but what he has done will live on forever. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, kids and the entire Kirk family.”

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Last night, Aldean took his Full Throttle Tour to Detroit, Michigan, to play his first concert since Kirk’s passing. Before the concert even started, Aldean held a tribute on the jumbotron honoring both Kirk’s legacy and the 24th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, backed by Toby Keith’s “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American).”

@thefamilytraditionband Jason Aldean honors Charlie Kirk during show intro #fy #charliekirk #USA ♬ original sound – Thefamilytraditionband

After beginning the concerts with past hits such as “Amarillo Sky,” “Big Green Tractor,” “Fly Over States” and “Night Train,” Aldean stopped the show to deliver a speech honoring Kirk’s legacy. Noting the impact he had not only in his life but in the country at large, the 48-year-old singer would also praise Kirk for standing up for his highly controversial 2023 all-genre #1 hit, “Try That in a Small Town.”

Before performing the song, Aldean said:

“I couldn’t get through the night without addressing some that happened yesterday. As you guys well know, an amazing person by the name of Charlie Kirk was murdered yesterday in Utah. This was a guy that I knew for a few years. I had a chance to meet him on quite a few occasions, talk to him. One of the best people ever. I mean, this is not the guy you go after, is what I’m trying to say.

And it’s a weird country that we live in when you start taking people out because you disagree with their opinions. That’s not what we’re about here. I remember when we put this song out, people like Charlie Kirk were some of the first ones to come up and go, ‘That’s what it’s about.’ This country coming together, calling out the bullsh*t when we see it, trying to get everything back on track, this guy wanted nothing more than what was best for all of us and our kids and everything moving forward.

It’s been a rough couple of days, but he was one of the guys that really stood up for this song when it came out when a lot of people were trying to make this song about something that it wasn’t. People like Charlie were the ones who stood up. Charlie’s a guy that’s going to be very, very much missed, and his legacy is going to live on forever with Turning Point and what he’s done with only 31 years on this planet. [It’s] just a really tragic loss for everybody. I know you guys have been feeling it as well. So tonight, since he was the one of the ones that stuck up for the song, let’s play this one for Charlie.”

On a night filled with emotion and heavy hearts, Aldean would proceed to finish the show with performances of “Dirt Road Anthem” and “My Kind of Party” before closing with “She’s Country.”

Watch here:

@its.sky_marie forever remembered. rest easy charlie. #jasonaldean #charliekirk #concert #detroit #justiceforkirk ♬ original sound – ~ᦓᛕꪗ~

The post “His Legacy Will Live On Forever” – Jason Aldean Dedicates Detroit Performance Of “Try That In A Small Town” To Charlie Kirk first appeared on Whiskey Riff.