What Alan Jackson has shared about his health and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease diagnosis
After decades of touring, Alan Jackson is bidding farewell to life on tour so he can focus on his health following his diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease.
The country star, 66, made the bittersweet announcement during his concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 17.
“Y’all may have heard that I’m kinda winding down. In fact, this is my last road show,” he said to a sold-out crowd, according to his official website.
In video footage of the moment shared on his Instagram account, Jackson addressed the crowd and expressed his gratitude.
“This is the last one out on the road for me, and I’m so blessed. Thank you all so much for supporting my music. I’m living the American dream for sure,” he said.
Jackson may have officially retired from touring, but he still has one last show planned for his fans.
“We’re planning on doing a big finale where it all started, and that’s in Nashville, Tennessee, Music City. So I’ve got to do my last one there,” he said.
The announcement on Jackson’s website referenced his health journey, including his diagnosis with the hereditary nerve condition, which he revealed on the TODAY show in 2021.
Here’s what to know about Jackson’s health and diagnosis.
What has Jackson said about his health?
In 2021, Jackson sat down with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager for an exclusive interview about his diagnosis with a degenerative nerve condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
At the time, he revealed that he first learned about his condition 10 years beforehand.
“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,” Jackson said. “It’s genetic that I inherited from my daddy. … There’s no cure for it, but it’s been affecting me for years. And it’s getting more and more obvious. 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.”
The singer underscored that his disease wasn’t “deadly” but said it was related to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.
At the time, Jackson said he had no plans of slowing down his career.
“I never wanted to do the big retirement tour, like people do, then take a year off and then come back,” he said. “I think that’s kinda cheesy. And I’m not saying I won’t be able to tour. I’ll try to do as much as I can.”
According to Jackson’s official website, the singer donated a portion of each ticket sale to the CMT Research Foundation. Over the course of the tour, he raised over $2.25-million through donations, matching contributions and other efforts.
“It’s been a long, sweet ride. It started 40 years ago this September,” he said during his final concert.
In a May 2024 video on his social media, he said his illness was making it challenging for him to perform.
“I think it’s just getting time to start thinking about hanging it up full-time,” he said. “Most of my fans know I have a degenerative health condition that affects my legs and arms and mobility that I got from my daddy, and it’s getting worse and it makes me more uncomfortable on stage. I have a hard time and I just want to think about maybe calling it quits before I’m unable to do the job like I want to.”
What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease?
Per the Mayo Clinic, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a “group of inherited disorders that cause nerve damage,” mostly in the arms and legs. The condition is also known as hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy.
“Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease results in smaller, weaker muscles. You may also experience loss of sensation and muscle contractions, and difficulty walking,” according to Mayo Clinic. “Foot deformities such as hammertoes and high arches also are common.”
Symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms of the disease usually begin in adolescence or early adulthood but can also develop in midlife. Typically, symptoms begin in the feet and legs and can spread to the hands and arms.
Symptoms include:
- Leg, ankle and feet weakness and
- Decreased ability to run
- High foot arches
- Curled toes (hammertoes)
- Loss of muscle bulk in legs and feet
- Regular tripping or falling
- Trouble lifting feet at the ankle
- Reduced or loss of sensation in legs and feet
- Awkward or higher than usual step
