During his final stop on tour in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, country music star Alan Jackson spoke emotionally to his fans about his health and future plans.
Jackson told the audience, “You may have heard that I’m winding down my career. In fact, this is my last road show.” He paused, clearly moved, and added, “You’re making me tear up out here.”
He went on to say that although this was his last road show, he plans to hold a big farewell concert in Nashville, Tennessee, next summer. “It just felt right to end it where it all started — in Nashville, Music City. So, I have to do the last one there,” Jackson explained.
In September 2021, Jackson publicly shared that he had been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. This is a rare and chronic condition that affects the nerves controlling muscle movement. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it usually impacts how a person feels in their hands and feet. There is no cure for the disease, but physical therapy and special devices or shoes can help manage symptoms.
Jackson discussed his diagnosis in a 2021 interview on NBC’s “Today” show. He said, “I have this neuropathy and neurological disease. It’s genetic — I inherited it from my dad. There’s no cure, but it has been affecting me for years. It’s getting harder to hide. I know I’m stumbling on stage now. I even have trouble balancing in front of the microphone, and that makes me uncomfortable.”
He also noted, “It’s not fatal. It won’t kill me. But it’s related to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.”
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