Jason Aldean, the country music singer who was on stage in Las Vegas last Sunday when a gunman opened fire into the crowd, started this week's episode of "Saturday Night Live" with a tribute to the victims and survivors of the deadly attack.

"So many people are hurting. There are children, parents, brothers, sisters, friends, they're all part of our family." Aldean said.

"So I want to say to them: We hurt for you and we hurt with you," he continued. "You can be sure that we are 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."

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After his message, Aldean opened the show with Tom Petty's "Won't Back Down." Petty, an award-winning and iconic American rock star, died this week at age 66.

At least 58 people were killed and hundreds of others were injured after gunfire broke out last Sunday night at the Route 91 country music festival in Las Vegas.

SNL usually starts out with a comedy sketch, but Aldean attended as a surprise guest to open the show. The musical guest was is singer Sam Smith.