His song “Why Not Me” was written and dedicated to the victims of the tragic 2017 Route 91 Harvest Music Festival shooting victims.
Highlights
- Eric Church honored the Grand Ole Opry during its 100th-anniversary event for helping him heal after the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
- Shortly after the tragedy, Church performed “Why Not Me” at the Opry on October 4, 2017, as a heartfelt tribute to the victims.
- Church credits the Opry and its audience with “helping repair a piece of his heart” during challenging times.
Country music artist Eric Church has recently paid tribute to the Grand Ole Opry for its role in his healing process following the tragic 2017 Las Vegas shooting.
This acknowledgment came during the “Opry 100: A Live Celebration,” a special event commemorating the Opry’s centennial anniversary.
The 2017 Las Vegas Shooting
On October 1, 2017, the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas became the site of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.
A gunman opened fire from a hotel room overlooking the festival grounds, killing 58 people and injuring hundreds.
The tragedy sent shockwaves through the nation, particularly affecting the country music community.
The moment gunshots started ringing out at the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival pic.twitter.com/EA8wWt4miH
— Crime Net (@TRIGGERHAPPYV1) February 16, 2024
Eric Church had performed at the Route 91 Harvest festival just two nights before the shooting.
The news of the massacre deeply affected him, knowing that many of the victims had attended his performance and were fans.
In the days following the tragedy, Church expressed profound sorrow and grappled with the emotional aftermath.
One story that particularly moved him was about Sonny Melton, a man who died shielding his wife during the attack.
Sonny and his wife were big fans of Church and had attended the festival just to see him perform.
Sonny Melton was only 29. He worked the emergency room and ICU at Henry County Medical Center. Wife Heather says: "He is a nurturing person" pic.twitter.com/IBLa3v4Hx2
— Forrest Sanders (@ForrestBSanders) October 2, 2017
Emotional Tribute at the Grand Ole Opry
Shortly after the shooting, on October 4, 2017, during a performance at the Grand Ole Opry, Church delivered an emotional tribute to the victims.
He debuted a song titled “Why Not Me,” written in response to the tragedy.
Fighting back tears, Church conveyed his grief and solidarity with the victims and their families.
This heartfelt performance resonated with many, highlighting the deep bond between artists and their fans.
In the years following the tragedy, Church has often spoken about the Grand Ole Opry’s significance in his healing journey.
The Opry, known as the “home of American music,” has been a sanctuary for artists and fans alike.
For Church, performing on its stage offered solace and a sense of community during challenging times.
Opry 100: A Live Celebration
On March 19, 2025, the Grand Ole Opry celebrated its 100th anniversary with a live televised event.
The special featured performances by numerous country music stars, including Eric Church.
During his segment, Church honored the Opry for its enduring legacy and its role in his personal journey.
Eric Church you sir are a class act for dedicating your time to play that song over any of your hits #Opry100 pic.twitter.com/ghHmXyrhXz
— Cole Blackwell (@ColeTrain1027) March 20, 2025
He once again performed “Why Not Me,” reminding audiences of the Opry’s comforting presence in times of sorrow. He said,
On October 4 of 2017, I stood on this stage a broken man. I was shattered. I had just played what is now known as the deadliest mass shooting in US history.
countryrebel.com
I played the Opry stage after playing the festival in Las Vegas and I did not want to be here.
He continued, crediting that performance and the audience with “repairing a piece of my heart that night.”
Additional Information
- Stephen Paddock, the perpetrator of the Las Vegas shooting, was a high-stakes gambler who often played video poker for hours.
- He was known for his meticulous planning, as evidenced by the 21 suitcases he brought to his hotel room, which contained firearms and ammunition.
- His motive for the Las Vegas shooting remains officially undetermined. Investigators, including the FBI, found no clear or single motivating factor behind his actions.
- Some reports suggested he may have been influenced by the criminal past of his father, Benjamin Hoskins Paddock, who was once on the FBI’s most-wanted list.
