Beloved Country Music Hall of Famer Alan Jackson is retiring from the stage.
The Grammy Award winning country music singer-songwriter announced his retirement from touring on May 17 during the final stop of his “Last Call: One More for the Road” tour at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. The “Remember When” singer told the impassioned crowd he was “kinda winding down” and the night was the “last road show” of his career.
“Y’all are gonna make me tear up up here,” said an emotional Jackson before a packed arena.
Since 2011, Jackson has battled Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease — a group of genetic conditions that affect the nerves connecting the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. The disease has affected Jackson’s ability to move and stay balanced on stage.
Before officially hanging up his travelling boots, Jackson plans to perform one “big finale” in Nashville in 2026, he said.
“I just felt like I had to end it all where it all started and that’s in Nashville, Tennessee,” he said. “I gotta do my last one there.”
“It’s been a long, sweet ride; it started 40 years ago this September. My wife and I drove to Nashville with an old U-Haul trailer and chased this dream,” Jackson continued. “It’s been a crazy ride. I lived the American dream, for sure. So blessed. Thank you all so much for all your support of my music and attending my shows.”
Why is Alan Jackson retiring from touring?
Jackson’s retirement announcement comes nearly four years after he revealed he’d been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which he inherited from from his father. Amid his battle with the disease, Jackson described his “Last Call: One More for the Road Tour” as the final opportunity for fans to see him perform.
Jackson first shared his diagnosis in a 2021 interview with the “TODAY” show’s Jenna Bush Hager in which he said the disease has affected several members of his family.
“It’s been affecting me for years, and it’s getting more and more obvious,” Jackson said. “And I know I’m stumbling around on stage and now I’m having a little trouble balancing even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable, and I just want people to know that’s why I look like I do.”
When will Alan Jackson perform on-stage for the last time?
Jackson will give one final stage performance in the summer of 2026 in Nashville. No other details have been announced at this time.
What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is an inherited disorder which causes a range of sensory and motor symptoms, including numbness, tingling, pain, muscle weakness and atrophy — deterioration in cells, tissues, and organs. The disease can also cause foot deformities that worsen over time.
In some cases, the disease can affect the nerves that control automatic body functions, leading to problems with sweating and dizziness. Some individuals with CMT might be unaware they have the condition, while others may experience physical disabilities.
There is no cure for the disease.
