Jason Aldean Defiant As He Resumes Tour In Tulsa

Country music star Jason Aldean brought the party back Thursday in his return to the stage in Tulsa following the deadly mass shooting that broke out while he was performing in Las Vegas, but the fun was tempered by the sting of the tragedy.

Three songs into his show in Tulsa, the singer launched into a five-minute speech that honored the 58 killed and nearly 500 hurt in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. 

But Aldean took a defiant tone in telling concertgoers to resist living in fear, and he called for more of the national unity he's seen since the attack.

"These people are going to continue to try to hold us down," Aldean said. "To those people that keep trying to do that, I say (expletive) you, we don't really care."

Fans agreed. They pumped their fists and held up American flags as Aldean continued.

"I want to play the show for you guys that the people in Las Vegas came to see and didn't get a chance to," he said.

Aldean gave fans the show they wanted. The Georgia native is one of country music's biggest stars, touring in support of his album "They Don't Know," which debuted atop the Billboard 200 in 2016. 

10/12/2017 Related Story: Tulsa Police Increased Presence For Aldean Concert

He blasted through hits including "Big Green Tractor," ''Fly Over States" and "She's Country," and popped open a can of beer onstage after the encore. 

Aldean canceled shows in California last week to mourn those killed October 1 at the outdoor Route 91 festival. He resumed his tour at Tulsa's BOK Center where concertgoers walked through metal detectors, and police presence was visible.

Authorities have said Stephen Paddock targeted the country music festival, opening fire from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel before killing himself. They are still trying to determine a motive.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.