Words are still hard to come by, emotions and unfamiliar feelings are flooding our hearts and souls and trying to process the horrific tragedy at the Rt. 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas on Sunday night (October 1st) is still something that we can’t quite do and which will affect us the rest of our lives. The Country Music family, community, fans and friends around the world have been shaken to the core by the devastating carnage from Sunday night.
It has taken days for me to post the following:
Eric Church performed at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville on Wednesday night (October 4th) and spoke eloquently and passionately about Sunday’s shooting in Las Vegas. He was one of the headliners at the Route 91 Harvest Festival and painted the picture of the fans who attended the festival. He dedicated “Why Not Me,” a song he wrote this week, to Sonny Melton, the Paris, Tennessee man who died protecting his wife from the bullets that were being sprayed into the crowd of festivalgoers. Check out the videos below.
Woke up to such horrible news. We are praying for the victims and their families. May the Lord bring some comfort to them.
— Carrie Underwood (@carrieunderwood) October 2, 2017
"Prayer without action is powerless." – @katyperry, @LionelRichie, and @LukeBryanOnline share their thoughts on the Las Vegas shooting pic.twitter.com/sNLNvPz2EF
— Good Morning America (@GMA) October 4, 2017
Absolutely heartbroken and crushed by what happened in LV. That crowd was so full of love. Deepest condolences to the victims and families.
— Brothers Osborne (@brothersosborne) October 2, 2017
To those that attended Route 91 Harvest Festival. @Route91Harvest pic.twitter.com/t60bnQ6lsw
— Brothers Osborne (@brothersosborne) October 2, 2017
To every person that has or will ever come to our shows… we love you so much. In tears right now. We deeply appreciate every one of you.
— Brothers Osborne (@brothersosborne) October 3, 2017
Words can't begin explain my sadness. My family and I are praying for the victims of this tragedy. Truly heartbroken.
— Luke Bryan (@LukeBryanOnline) October 2, 2017
Praying for everyone at Route 91. That crowd was one of the best I've played for all year. This news is devastating. My camp is home & safe.
— Lauren Alaina (@Lauren_Alaina) October 2, 2017
https://t.co/8MRvbINsOT pic.twitter.com/EadG0qxl3r
— Dierks Bentley (@DierksBentley) October 2, 2017
While he performed “Here On Earth” the other morning for a national radio show, he’s also healing folks by talking to them and really listening to them, as well as giving much needed blood to the American Red Cross.
We are devastated by the news from Las Vegas this morning. Our hearts and prayers are with everyone affected by this tragedy. Our fans are our family – we love you all. pic.twitter.com/k0CiL1THlu
— Lady Antebellum (@ladyantebellum) October 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/ladyantebellum/status/915894375963549697
Praying for all the country music fans, their families and first responders involved in the tragedy in Las Vegas last night.
— Alan Jackson (@OfficialJackson) October 2, 2017
— Jon Pardi (@JonPardi) October 2, 2017
Heartbroken over the news of Vegas. My thoughts with all the innocent victims and their families x
— Shania Twain (@ShaniaTwain) October 2, 2017
https://twitter.com/KaceyMusgraves/status/914749315712786432
— K A C E Y (@KaceyMusgraves) October 2, 2017
I'm thankful many of my brothers & sisters in the business are safe but my heart is broken for those killed/injured in the Vegas shooting.
— Josh Turner (@joshturnermusic) October 2, 2017
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZw4F-PA725/?taken-by=canaansmith
https://twitter.com/MickeyGuyton/status/914793405917605888
https://www.instagram.com/p/BZroEAlFpFr/?taken-by=karenfairchild
"You look up and you see us. But what you don't understand is we look back and we see you." @VGcom remembers Las Vegas victims pic.twitter.com/Kf0C0gMWdV
— Grand Ole Opry (@opry) October 8, 2017
To the victims of the shooting and their loved ones, our hearts and prayers go out you at this most tragic time. pic.twitter.com/5L6PX9VXiQ
— Clare Dunn (@ClareDunnMusic) October 2, 2017
Keith Urban (Candlelight Vigil) OC: …in the world. 1:23Audio / Before performing “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” at Monday night’s Candlelight Vigil at Nashville’s Ascend Theater, Keith Urban offered hope and prayers from his family to everyone who was affected by Sunday night’s horrific tragedy in Las Vegas.
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“I I want to firstly offer the prayers and love of my whole family to everybody affected by last night’s horrific tragedy. I started this morning by finding out about it, and being shell-shocked all morning getting my kids ready for school. And our nine-year-old, as I was driving her to school this morning, said to, ‘Dad, you seem quiet.’ I said, ‘Yeah, it was a lot of people killed last night.’ She said, ‘Did you know any of them?’ I said, ‘Not that I know of.’ Then she said, ‘Well, why are you so sad?’ I said, ‘Well, first of all, these were innocent people horrifically taken. Secondly, they’re like family.’ It’s the one thing about country music that’s always been at the center of it. It is community. It’s about community. So, I did know those people in that way, and it just really hit me. I feel very grateful for this moment tonight to be able to put some light in the world.”
Vince Gill (Candlelight Vigil) OC: …innocent people. :17Audio / Before performing "Go Rest High On That Mountain" at Monday night's Candlelight Vigil in Nashville, Vince Gill gave his thoughts to the horrific events of Sunday night.
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“Thank you for the opportunity to come and lift up 58 families who lost somebody last night. An honor to be here as a voice for the innocent. May we never lose our voice for innocent people.”
Amy Grant (Candlight Vigil) OC: …each other. Amen. 2:21Audio / Vince Gill's wife, Amy Grant, led a prayer at Monday night's Candlelight Vigil in Nashville to honor those who lost and risked their lives Sunday night in Las Vegas.
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“Father in Heaven, thank you for the gift of each other. Thank you that none of us is born alone or dies alone. But you go before us and beneath us and beside us and within us. Thank you for loving arms that were there to catch every fallen child, man and woman. Thank you for your presence that never leaves us. Thank you for word said over and over again, ‘Fear not.’ ‘Fear not.’ Father, in silence, we lift up, we just imagine all of the people rebuilding their lives. Broken. Grieving. And as a group, I don’t even know how to imagine lifting them all up, but I’m just picturing us almost like slinging them on our backs, lifting them up in our arms to the light of your love. We lift them up now, God, in silence. We lift up grieving spouses, God. We lift up moms and dads grieving the loss of a child, a son and a daughter. We lift up the doctors and nursing attending to the hundreds of people recovering. Give us the grace, God, every day, to see each other. To see each other. To see our differences. To see our similarities. To observe. To learn rather than judge. Fill our hearts with courage to not be afraid. To love, love, love. Thank you that you began this story that we’re all a part of, and you will finish it. And it began in love, and it will end in love. Thank you for the gift of each other. Amen.”