LAS VEGAS -- "Saturday Night Live" paid tribute to the victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting and the late rock superstar Tom Petty by opening its show with country star Jason Aldean singing one of Petty's songs.

"This week we witnessed one of the worst tragedies in history," Aldean said as he opened the show. "Like everyone, I'm struggling to understand what happened that night and how to pick up the pieces and start to heal."

Aldean performed "I Won't Back Down" during the live opening Saturday night and then introduced the show.

Aldean was performing at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas last Sunday night when a gunman sprayed bullets into the crowd from a high-rise hotel, killing 58 people and injuring nearly 500.

Petty died the next day in Los Angeles after suffering cardiac arrest.

"We hurt for you and we hurt with you," said Aldean. "But you can be sure that we're going to walk through these tough times together, every step of the way. Because when America's at it's best, our bond and our spirit... it's unbreakable."

Watch his SNL performance in the video player below.