Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
Jason Aldean performed on stage after presenting an award to Charlie Kirk’s widow during the 2025 Patriot Awards in New York.
Jason and Brittany Aldean played a prominent role at the 2025 Patriot Awards, held on November 6 at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Brookville, New York. The event marked FOX Nation’s seventh annual celebration honoring American patriots and their contributions.
During the ceremony, Erika Kirk — widow of the late Charlie Kirk — received the first-ever Charlie Kirk Legacy Award. The Aldeans joined FOX News host Jesse Watters in presenting the award to her.
Following the presentation, Jason returned to the stage for a heartfelt performance. Before singing, he took a moment to reflect on Charlie Kirk’s life and influence.
“Charlie was truly one of a kind, and his absence will be deeply felt,” Aldean said, referring to the Turning Point USA founder. “There’s too much violence and division in this country.”
He went on to joke that while Kirk may not have been a big fan of country music — “more of a hip-hop guy,” as he put it — he believed Kirk would have appreciated the message behind his next song. Aldean then performed his hit single “Try That in a Small Town.” Later in the evening, he was expected to sing “How Far Does a Goodbye Go,” a track from his latest album.
Before the awards, Brittany Aldean shared glimpses of her day on Instagram. She posted an elevator mirror selfie wearing an all-black leather outfit, a pair of sunglasses perched on her head, and a water bottle in hand. She tagged her location as New York City, where the event took place.
In another post, she shared a photo of her morning drink choices — a glass of white wine beside a partially finished cup of green juice — with the caption, “Wine/juice kinda morning,” followed by a heart emoji.
The Aldeans have been vocal about their grief following Charlie Kirk’s tragic death. The conservative activist was shot and killed while speaking outside Utah Valley University on September 10.
Weeks later, the couple posted a black-and-white video on Instagram in his memory. In it, Jason played guitar while Brittany stood beside him, the two performing Luke Bryan’s emotional 2013 ballad about loss. Their caption read simply, “For Charlie,” with a red heart emoji.
The video opened with a photo of the pair attending Kirk’s memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Seen from behind, they stood arm in arm facing the stage.
After the service, Brittany shared her reflections online, describing the experience as “overwhelming” yet spiritually uplifting. She said she was moved by how Kirk’s life had inspired so many people.
“Yesterday we went to Charlie’s funeral service in Arizona, and it was so faith-driven,” she explained. “Everyone was worshiping — there was something special in that room.”
She added that his death felt like “a revival,” saying it brought people closer to their faith and inspired them to live more meaningfully.
“I thought I’d cry the whole time,” she admitted. “But instead, I left feeling oddly positive. Hearing all the stories about his life and impact made me realize just how big his legacy really is.”
Brittany concluded her post by sharing a message that has resonated deeply with her: “They keep saying ‘live like Charlie,’ and I’m going to try to do that every day.”
The following night, on September 11, Jason paid tribute to Kirk during his concert in Detroit. Between songs, he paused to address the crowd, remembering his friend.
“An amazing person named Charlie Kirk was murdered yesterday in Utah,” he said, as fans erupted in applause. Aldean went on to share that he had known Kirk personally and had met with him several times over the past few years, calling him a meaningful influence on his life and career.
