Maren Morris dedicates new song 'Dear Hate' to Las Vegas shooting victims

Country artist who performed at Route 91 festival where shooting took place has finally released the song, after recording it with Vince Gill in 2016

Maren Morris has released her song 'Dear Hate' and pledged all royalties to a charity supporting the Las Vegas shooting victims (Getty)

Grammy award-winning country star Maren Morris has dedicated a new song, "Dear Hate", to the victims of the Las Vegas massacre.

Morris, arguably best known for her album Hero, had performed at the Route 91 Harvest Festival near the Mandalay Bay Hotel, alongside some of the biggest names in country music.

Sharing a touching note with the song, which was written three years ago and recorded in 2016 with Vince Gill, Morris also pledged all royalties from the track to the Music City Cares Fund.

The fund was established on 2 October by the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, to raise money for victims of the shooting which left at least 59 people dead and 515 injured.

On the song, Morris sings: "Dear Hate, I saw you on the news today/Like a shock that takes my breath away/You fall like rain, cover us in drops of pain/I'm afraid that we just might drown."

In the social media post she said fans had often asked when she would release the song.

"I never knew when would be the right time, but I realised today that there's never a right time," she wrote. "Hate is everywhere, and I'm sick of not doing enough. In the darkest tunnel, there is still love and music. That's what it's here for."

Sunday night headliner Jason Aldean was performing when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fire on crowds from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

In a statement after the attack he said: "Tonight has been beyond horrific... My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved tonight.

"It hurts my heart that this would happen to anyone who was just coming out to enjoy what should have been a fun night."

Officials have said they are currently baffled over what his motivation was for the killing spree, having discounted a claim of responsibility by Isis and failing to find any history of mental illness, inkling of social disaffection, radical views or political discontent.

Follow the latest updates on the Las Vegas shooting here.

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