The ACM Awards Stands #VegasStrong with Kind Messages From the Country Community

The country music industry is pulling together with their fans to face the fear of returning to the same city where the Route 91 Harvest Festival shooting occurred.

Written by Kelly Brickey
The ACM Awards Stands #VegasStrong with Kind Messages From the Country Community
Brett Young, Lindsay Ell, Devin Dawson; Photo via Twitter

The thought of returning to Las Vegas after the tragedy of the Route 91 Harvest Festival holds heavy in the minds of the country music industry as the community will go back to the city for the ACM Awards.

Without forgetting and acknowledging the sorrowful events that occurred last time many of the artists were in the area, the Academy of Country Music wanted to honor the strength and courage of all those making the journey back to where the massacre happened, including fans and artists alike. Holding a light at the end of a dark tunnel, a number of singers teamed up to stand united with the #VegasStrong mentality holding them together as they brave the fear of coming back.

“As the country music community prepares to return to Las Vegas for the first time since October, we are reminded of the importance of banding together as a community to honor those whose lives were lost and those whose lives will never be the same. #VegasStrong,” the Academy of Country Music tweeted out alongside the powerful video.

One of the most prominent messages sent out from country music regarding the shooting was the idea that the negative impacts of the catastrophe will never stop the healing power that music transcends.“We’re not going to let one person ruin the essence of why we do what we do,” Lindsay Ell proclaimed in the emotional clip.

Some artists even emphasized how the evil times pushed everyone into supporting each other, in both the industry and fanbases.

“It’s been cool to see how we’ve all come together, because that’s what country music is. Like, we are a family. Whether it’s Nashville or whether it’s Vegas or whatever, or it’s LA, or wherever you are, country music is this very tight-knit community,” Devin Dawson explained.

Just six months ago, 58 people lost their lives after a lone shooter fired several rounds of ammunition during Jason Aldean’s set at the Route 91 Harvest Festival. Hundreds more were injured during the attack, causing it to be known as the worst mass murder in modern U.S. history.

The 53rd Annual ACM Awards will broadcast live from Las Vegas on Sunday, April 15, at 8 p.m. EST on CBS.