Tessa Quinn
Country music star Alan Jackson has Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a degenerative nerve condition that affects his ability to walk and balance. The 66-year-old singer has been open about his diagnosis and health struggles, revealing in 2021 that he inherited the disease from his father. While there is no cure for CMT, Jackson has expressed his intention to continue performing and creating music despite his condition. In May 2025, Jackson announced his farewell to touring, citing health reasons, and performed his final road show in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. However, he plans to return to Nashville, Tennessee, for a final performance in the summer of 2026.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Announcement | Alan Jackson announced his retirement from touring due to health issues, specifically Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a degenerative nerve condition. |
| Age | 66 years old |
| Career | Country music artist, singer-songwriter, and Grammy winner |
| Health Condition | Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a neurological disorder causing muscle weakness and affecting mobility |
| Symptoms | Numbness, tingling, pain, muscle weakness and atrophy, balance issues, and foot deformities |
| Impact on Career | Jackson plans to retire from touring but will perform a final show in Nashville, Tennessee, in summer 2026. He intends to continue creating music and songwriting. |
| Treatment | While there is no cure for CMT, Jackson has managed his symptoms with physical therapy, and orthopedic devices. |
| Awareness | Jackson has raised over $2.25 million for the CMT Research Foundation through his tour and donations. |
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What You'll Learn
Alan Jackson's Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Country music star Alan Jackson has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a genetic neurological condition causing damage to the peripheral nerves connecting the brain and spinal cord to the arms and legs. CMT is a group of inherited genetic conditions that cause 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. While it does not alter life expectancy, CMT can affect a person's balance and ability to walk.
Jackson was diagnosed with CMT in 2011, but he only revealed his diagnosis to the public in 2021. He inherited the disease from his father, and it has affected several members of his family. In an interview with the "TODAY" show's Jenna Bush Hager, Jackson shared that the disease had been affecting him for years and was getting more and more obvious, especially when performing on stage. He noted that he felt self-conscious about stumbling around and trying to keep his balance.
Jackson's battle with CMT has impacted his career as a musician. In 2025, he announced his farewell tour, titled "Last Call: One More for the Road Tour," which ran through May 2025. At his final tour stop in Milwaukee on May 17, 2025, Jackson confirmed that it was his last road show. However, he expressed his intention to return to Nashville for a final performance in the summer of 2026. Jackson's decision to retire from touring was influenced by his struggle with CMT, which made it challenging for him to move and maintain balance on stage.
Despite the challenges posed by CMT, Jackson remains positive and grateful for his career and the support of his fans. He has expressed relief at sharing his diagnosis and being open about his health struggles. Jackson also intends to continue making music and sharing it with his fans. CMT is a rare disease, affecting around one in every 2,500 people in the United States. While there is currently no cure for CMT, treatment programs such as physical and occupational therapy can help manage symptoms and maintain quality of life.
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The country star's final tour
Country music icon Alan Jackson has recently concluded his final tour, titled "Last Call: One More for the Road". The tour, which began in 2022, ended on May 17, 2025, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, marking the last time the singer would perform his extensive catalogue of hits on the road. Jackson, 66, has been battling Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a rare and degenerative nerve condition causing muscle weakness and atrophy, for over a decade. Despite his health struggles, Jackson embarked on his final tour, bringing his music to sold-out arenas across America.
The country star, known for his hits like "Chattahoochee" and "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere", has been open about his health struggles since 2021, when he revealed that he had been diagnosed with the disease 10 years prior. The decision to embark on one last tour was motivated by his desire to perform for his fans one final time. Jackson shared that his condition was becoming more obvious and affecting his performances, making him self-conscious and nervous onstage.
Despite the challenges posed by his health, Jackson's final tour was a resounding success, with sold-out arenas and standing ovations. At his final tour stop in Milwaukee, Jackson became emotional, expressing his gratitude for his extensive career and the love of his fans. He announced that while this would be his last touring show, he plans to return to Nashville, the city where it all began, for a grand finale in the summer of 2026.
Jackson's final tour, "Last Call: One More for the Road", was a fitting farewell to his fans across America. The tour showcased his enduring popularity and the impact he has had on country music. With his music career coming to a close, Jackson shared his hope to continue creating and sharing music, expressing that songwriting is "more fulfilling" than touring.
As Jackson retires from touring, his legacy as a country music legend will endure. His music has touched the lives of fans worldwide, and his impact on the country music genre is undeniable. While his health condition has brought an end to his touring days, it has also served as a reminder of his remarkable career and the enduring power of his music.
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Jackson's struggle with balance issues
Country music icon Alan Jackson has been struggling with balance issues due to his battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a degenerative nerve condition that affects his ability to walk. CMT is an inherited neurological disorder that causes balance problems by compromising smaller, weaker muscles in the body's extremities, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy.
Jackson, who was diagnosed with CMT a decade ago, has been open about his health struggles and how they have impacted his performances. In a 2021 interview, he shared that the disease had been affecting him for years and that it was getting more and more obvious, especially when performing onstage. "I know I'm stumbling around onstage. And now I'm having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable," Jackson said.
The country singer revealed that he inherited the disease from his father, and it has affected several members of his family. CMT typically causes muscle weakness that begins in the feet and lower legs during the teen years or early adulthood, but symptoms can appear at any age. Over time, the weakness may spread to the fingers, hands, and arms, making it increasingly difficult for Jackson to maintain his balance while performing.
Despite his struggles, Jackson expressed gratitude for his career and the love he has received from his fans. He also shared that he felt a sense of relief after opening up about his health condition. "It's like, you can be a singer and go out and tour, but it's kind of like you're just doing the same thing over and over," Jackson explained. While he initially stated that he had no plans to slow down his career, Jackson recently announced that his final road show would be in Nashville, Tennessee, bringing an end to his four-decade-long music career.
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Announcing his final show in Nashville
Country music icon Alan Jackson has announced his retirement from touring due to his battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, an inherited degenerative nerve condition that affects his balance and mobility. The disease causes nerve damage, mostly in the arms and legs, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. While there is no cure for CMT, treatment programs like physical and occupational therapy can help manage symptoms.
Jackson made the announcement during the final stop of his "Last Call: One More for the Road" tour in Milwaukee on May 17, 2025. The 66-year-old country legend shared that the concert was the ""last road show of my career" but promised a "big finale show" in Nashville, Tennessee, the city where his musical journey began.
The exact date and location for Jackson's final show in Nashville are yet to be revealed, but it is scheduled for the summer of 2026. While this will be Jackson's last stage performance, he has expressed his intention to continue making and sharing music. In a 2023 episode of his daughter Mattie Jackson's podcast, "In Joy Life", he stated, "I would hope so... The creative part jumps out every now and then. I'm always scribbling down ideas and thinking about melodies, and I feel like there'll be some more music to come, yes."
Alan Jackson's farewell tour and upcoming final show in Nashville mark the end of an era in country music. The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter has had a remarkable 40-year career, with numerous hits and a dedicated fan base. His decision to retire from touring is a result of his health struggles, but he remains grateful for his extensive career and the love and support of his fans.
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Jackson's relief at going public with his diagnosis
Country music icon Alan Jackson has publicly spoken about his relief at sharing his Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease diagnosis. The singer, who has had a 40-year career in music, announced his retirement from touring in May 2025, citing his battle with the degenerative nerve condition as the reason.
Jackson, 66, was diagnosed with the disease in 2011, and he first spoke about it publicly in 2021. He inherited the disease from his father, and it has affected several members of his family. The condition causes "lifelong progressive muscle weakness and atrophy of the arms and legs," according to the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association website.
In an interview with the "TODAY" show, Jackson said that he decided to go public with his diagnosis because it was getting more obvious while performing onstage. “I know I'm stumbling around onstage. I'm having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable,” he said. He added that he felt relief after sharing his diagnosis:
> "In some ways, it's a relief because I was starting to get so self-conscious up there, about stumbling around. And it just made me nervous up there trying to keep my balance. And I look pitiful. So I think it'll be good for me now to get it out in the open and so if anybody's curious why I don't walk right, that's why."
Jackson also expressed his gratitude for his extensive career and the love his fans have shown him over the years. Despite his condition, he said he felt blessed and that he considered himself to be "living the American dream."
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Frequently asked questions
There is no indication that Alan Jackson was ever in the hospital. However, the country music star has been battling Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a degenerative nerve condition, for over a decade.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, or CMT, is a neurological disorder that affects the sensory and motor functions of the body. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, pain, muscle weakness and atrophy. CMT can also cause foot deformities that worsen over time.
Jackson has experienced balance issues and has stumbled around on stage. In 2021, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with CMT 10 years prior and that it was affecting his ability to perform. In 2025, he announced his retirement from touring, citing health issues.
Although Jackson has retired from touring, he has stated that he plans to perform one final show in Nashville, Tennessee, in the summer of 2026.
