WATCH: Jason Aldean Issues Health Update After Stopping Connecticut Concert
“I’ve had a lot of people checking on me today after hearing about what happened last night at the show in Connecticut,” Aldean said.
Jason Aldean; Photos via Twitter
Jason Aldean is speaking out after he was forced to abruptly end his Saturday night concert at Xfinity Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut due to an on-stage medical scare.
On Sunday (July 16), just one day after the incident occurred, the country superstar took to his Instagram stories to address the situation and clarify what actually happened.
“I’ve had a lot of people checking on me today after hearing about what happened last night at the show in Connecticut. Just wanted to let you know, thanks to everybody that’s calling in, checking. I’m doing fine,” he said.
“Dehydration” and “Heat Exhaustion”
The “Tough Crowd” singer went on to explain that he had been playing golf all day before the show and that the extreme heat played into the situation.
“I think it was a combination of dehydration and just heat exhaustion,” he explained. “So I hear a lot of stuff going around. Heat stroke, all this stuff. I don’t think it was quite that serious, but it was pretty intense last night at the show.”
While he tried his best to power through, Aldean ultimately decided t seek medical attention as he began feeling ill.
See His Statement
“Anybody that was at the show knows how hot it was and I don’t know, something just kind of, I knew it was coming. I was trying to get through as much of the show as I could, and eventually it was just like I knew it wasn’t going to happen and I was trying to just get off stage and figure out what was going on,” he added.
Will Return To The Stage On Sunday
Aldean thanked fans for checking in on him and promised to make it up to them soon. He also revealed that his show scheduled for Sunday evening (July 16) would be going on as planned.
“So to everybody that came out to the show last night, thank you guys so much for being there. Obviously it’s not the way I wanted the show to end, not what I was hoping for on our first weekend of the tour by any means. But I had a couple of IVs. I had one last night when I came off stage. Had one today. I got a show in Saratoga Tonight. We’re going to play that show and then we’re going to make the one up to you guys in Hartford as well. So again, I apologize for cutting the show short, but we’ll come back and make it up to you and I’m feeling a lot, lot better. So thank you guys for checking in.”
Aldean’s statement comes after he suddenly fell ill and exited the stage in the midst of his headlining performance on the Highway Desperado Tour in Connecticut.
According to social media posts from concertgoers, Aldean was performing “Crazy Town” when he suddenly stopped singing, appeared to take a deep breath and then quickly ran off the stage with no explanation.
After approximately 20 minutes, concertgoers were then told to exit the venue with no details on what happened to the “If I Didn’t Love You” singer.
Watch
On Sunday morning (July 16), the Xfinity Theatre also released an update on Jason Aldean’s condition and revealed the show will in fact be rescheduled.
“Yesterday’s Jason Aldean show will be rescheduled for a future date. We appreciate your patience as we work on rescheduling a new date, as well as the outpouring of well-wishes for Jason. A rep has confirmed he is now doing well after experiencing heat stroke during last night’s performance. Please stay tuned to all social media channels for updates as they become available.”
Days prior to the incident Jason Aldean released a politically-charged music video for his latest single, “Try That In A Small Town.”
Directed by Shaun Silva, the thought-provoking clip features the country superstar singing the tune at the historic Maury County Courthouse in Columbia, Tennessee, intertwined with clips of current events that bring the song’s lyrics to life.
With this music video, Jason Aldean takes a bold step by using his platform to shine a light on pressing social and political issues. The clip features footage from protests, rallies, and significant moments in history, underscoring the message of the song and its call for action and unity.
New Music Video
At the time of the music video’s release, Jason Aldean shared a message with fans via his Instagram, showcasing small-town pride.
“When u grow up in a small town, it’s that unspoken rule of ‘we all have each other’s backs and we look out for each other,’” he wrote on social media. “It feels like somewhere along the way, that sense of community and respect has gotten lost. Deep down we are all ready to get back to that. I hope my new music video helps y’all know that you are not alone in feeling that way.”
“Try That In A Small Town” is a tune that showcases the way Jason Aldean feels about the current state of the world.
“Well, try that in a small town / See how far ya make it down the road / ‘Round here we take care of our own / You cross that line, it won’t take long / For you to find out, I recommend you don’t / Try that in a small town,” he sings.
After listening to “Try That In A Small Town” for the first time, Jason Aldean knew he had to record the tune as he immediately resonated with the message behind the track’s lyrics.
“For me, I heard the song and it just kind of explained to me what’s going on in the world. It resonated with me, I guess is a better word because of what’s going on in the world,” Aldean explained during a recent interview on The Bobby Bones Show.
He continued, “It’s like everyday you turn on the news and see something crazy happened or some heartbreaking story. This is just a song that talks about like you wouldn’t get away with that stuff in a small town. It’s just a different mindset and different kind of values in small town America that I wish everybody else would kind of adopt. It’d probably help some of things that are going on in the world.”
At Country Radio Now
Produced by Michael Knox and written by Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Kelley Lovelace, and Neil Thrasher, “Try That In A Small Town” impacted Country Radio on May 22.
“Try That In A Small Town” is expected to appear on Aldean’s forthcoming 11th studio album, which has yet-to-be announced. The project will also include “Tough Crowd,” a tune that he released in May of 2023 that serves as a tribute to his fan base, the Aldean Army.
The two new songs follow the Grammy-nominated, multi-Platinum entertainer’s 10th career studio album, MACON, GEORGIA.
The double album was named after his hometown of Macon, Georgia and features 20 new songs and an additional 10 live tracks. He unveiled the first half of the project in late 2021, and then released the completed record on April 22, 2022.
Aldean is currently in the midst of his highly-anticipated Highway Desperado Tour, which kicked off on July 14 at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts in Bethel, NY.
Produced by Live Nation, the 39-city headlining tour will make stops across the U.S. in Atlanta, Charlotte, Phoenix and more. The trek is expected to come to a close in Tampa at MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre on October 28.
Mitchell Tenpenny and Corey Kent serve as support on the trek.
Additionally, Jason Aldean is also scheduled to perform at several festivals later this year, including Country Thunder Wisconsin, Tidalwave Festival and more.
Highway Desperado 2023 Tour Dates
July
15 – Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
16 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center
20 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
21 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
27 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
28 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
29 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
August
4 – Charleston, SC – Credit One Stadium
5 – Atlanta, GA – Lakewood Amphitheatre
6 – Tuscaloosa, AL – Tuscaloosa Amphitheater
10 – Charlotte, NC – PNC Music Pavilion
11 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
18 – Sioux Falls, SD – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center
19 – Welch, MN – Treasure Island Amphitheater
24 – Estero, FL – Hertz Arena
25 – Jacksonville, FL – VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena
26 – Orange Beach, AL – The Wharf Amphitheater
September
7 – Toronto, ON – Budweiser Stage
8 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
9 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
14 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP
15 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
16 –Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
21 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre
22 – Portland, OR – RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
23 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
28 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
29 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
30 – San Bernardino, CA – Glen Helen Amphitheater
October
5 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
6 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater
7 – Denver, CO – Ball Arena
12 – Kansas City, MO – T-Mobile Center+
13 – Oklahoma City, OK – Paycom Center
14 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena
19 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena
20 – Louisville, KY – KFC Yum! Center
21 – Toledo, OH – Huntington Center
27 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
28 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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