Jason Aldean paid tribute to Charlie Kirk during a concert in Michigan on Thursday night (Sept. 11), and it’s clear it was personal.

Before playing “Try That in a Small Town,” Aldean spoke about Kirk, who was killed on Wednesday (Sept. 10) during an event in Utah.

He admitted he’d known and followed the 31-year-old for years. Kirk was “one of the best people ever,” Aldean shares.

• Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at Utah State University.
• Kirk was the founder of Turning Point USA and a popular champion for conservative causes.
• Police have arrested a suspect named Tyler Robinson. The 22-year-old was charged with the crimes on Friday (Sept. 12).

“I mean, this is not the guy you go after is what I’m trying to say,” Aldean adds.

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The song Aldean chose was special for the moment, Aldean shared, because Kirk was one of the champions at a time it was being criticized as being either racist or supportive of political violence.

“This guy wanted nothing more than what was best for all of us and our kids and everything moving forward,” Aldean said from the stage at Pine Knob, an amphitheater in Clarkson, Mich.

Fans in attendance cheered loudly through Aldean’s minute-long message. He wrapped with acknowledgment of what Kirk accomplished in a relatively short life and recognized the pain many of his fans are feeling.

“I know you guys have been feeling it as well, so tonight, since he was one of the ones that stuck out for the song, let’s play this one for Charlie,” he said.

Dozens of country artists have spoken up after Kirk’s killing, and all have condemned this kind of seemingly political violence.

While the shooter’s motives are not yet known, there were messages on the bullet casings that were political. He seemed to think of Kirk as a fascist.