Logan Reid
Country music star Alan Jackson has been open about his decade-long battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a rare genetic neurological disorder that affects muscle control in the feet and hands. While the disease is not fatal, it has impacted his ability to perform on stage, leading to the postponement of shows and his decision to bid farewell to touring. Despite his health struggles, Jackson remains hopeful about creating and sharing new music, emphasizing that he will continue as long as his health allows.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Singer Alan Jackson's health condition | Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a genetic neurological disorder that affects muscle control in the feet and hands |
| Alan Jackson's tour plans | Announced his Last Call Tour in March 2022, with dates until May 2024, but has had to postpone shows due to health issues |
| Retirement plans | Announced he is "winding down" and retiring from touring in May 2024, but still plans to release new music |
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What You'll Learn
Alan Jackson's Charcot-Marie-Tooth diagnosis
Alan Jackson is an American country music singer-songwriter known for his "'neotraditional country' style and for writing many of his songs. He has recorded 21 studio albums and is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 75 million records sold worldwide. Jackson has received numerous accolades for his work, including two Grammy Awards, 16 CMA Awards, and 17 ACM Awards.
In 2021, Jackson revealed that he had been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a degenerative nerve condition that affects the motor and sensory nerves controlling the muscles in the feet, legs, hands, and arms. CMT is a genetic disorder that the singer inherited from his late father, and it has impacted his ability to perform on stage due to problems with mobility and balance. While CMT is not deadly, it can severely restrict mobility, and there is currently no cure.
Jackson has been open about his health struggles, sharing that he had originally learned about his condition ten years before going public with the news. He has had to postpone shows and eventually announced his Last Call Tour, emphasising that he didn't want it to be seen as a farewell tour. However, in 2024, he shared that the disease was affecting his ability to play shows and that he was hanging it up full time. Jackson's final tour dates included cities such as Boston, Salt Lake City, and Orlando.
Despite his health challenges, Jackson remains committed to his music. In a 2023 interview with his daughter Mattie Jackson on her podcast, "In Joy Life", he expressed his desire to continue making and sharing music. Jackson also mentioned that songwriting is "more fulfilling than anything" to him, and he continues to work on new melodies and ideas.
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The country singer's retirement
Country music superstar Alan Jackson has had a long and illustrious career, selling over 40 million albums worldwide and being named the Country Music Association's Entertainer of the Year three times. However, in recent years, the singer has faced health challenges that have impacted his ability to perform and led to his decision to retire from touring.
In 2021, Jackson revealed that he had been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a rare and incurable neurological disorder that affects the nervous system and causes progressive loss of muscle tissue and sensation in the arms and legs. The disease is hereditary, passed down from his late father, and has also affected his paternal grandmother and older sister. While it does not impact life expectancy, CMT has made movement and performing onstage increasingly difficult for Jackson.
Despite his diagnosis, Jackson continued to tour and perform for his fans. In 2022, he embarked on his "Last Call: One More for the Road" farewell tour, playing over a dozen venues across the United States. However, the progression of CMT forced him to postpone several shows, including the final two dates in October 2022.
In May 2024, Jackson announced that his disease was affecting his ability to play shows and that he would be bidding farewell to life on tour. At a sold-out concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the 66-year-old singer expressed his gratitude to his fans and bid them a heartfelt goodbye: "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."
While Jackson has retired from touring, he has not ruled out the possibility of creating and sharing new music. In a February 2023 episode of his daughter Mattie Jackson's podcast, "In Joy Life," the singer shared that he still writes down ideas and thinks about melodies, promising that there is "some more music to come." Jackson's dedication to his craft and his fans has left an indelible mark on the country music landscape, and his retirement from touring marks the end of an era.
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Jackson's final tour dates
Country music star Alan Jackson has announced his final tour dates as he retires from life on the road to focus on his health. The singer, who has sold over 40 million albums worldwide, has been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a genetic neurological condition that affects muscle control in the feet and hands. CMT does not shorten life expectancy, but it can make movement extremely difficult, especially for someone used to performing on stage night after night.
Jackson announced his final tour dates in 2024, citing a desire to spend more time with his family, including his three daughters and grandchildren, as he enters his "twilight years". The tour, titled "Last Call: One More for the Road", began in August 2024 and ended in May 2025. The final show took place in Nashville, Tennessee, the city where Jackson's career began.
- Boston
- Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Kansas City, Missouri
- Salt Lake City
- Oklahoma City
- Fort Worth, Texas
- Orlando and Tampa, Florida
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The country star, known for hits like "Chattanooga" and "Little Bitty", has been open about his health struggles and their impact on his ability to perform. In a statement in March 2022, Jackson shared his reluctance to refer to the tour as a "farewell tour", expressing his desire to perform for as long as his health allowed. However, by May 2024, Jackson acknowledged that the disease was affecting his ability to play shows, and he ultimately concluded that it was time to hang it up full time.
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Jackson's health issues and performing
Alan Jackson is an American country music singer-songwriter. He is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with over 75 million records sold worldwide. Jackson has had a highly successful career, releasing 21 studio albums, including two Christmas albums, two gospel albums, and three greatest-hits albums. He has also won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, 16 CMA Awards, and 17 ACM Awards.
In recent years, Jackson has faced health issues due to his battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a degenerative nerve condition that affects muscle control in the feet and hands. CMT is a genetic neurological disorder that causes progressive loss of muscle tissue and sensation in the arms and legs, leading to balance issues and difficulty walking. The disease is not deadly, but it can severely impact mobility, especially for someone who is used to performing on stage regularly.
Jackson was diagnosed with CMT over a decade ago but only revealed his diagnosis to the public in 2021. He shared his struggle with the disease during an appearance on the Today show, where he explained that it was becoming increasingly difficult for him to perform on stage due to mobility and balance issues. Jackson also stated that he wanted his fans to be aware of his health condition so they wouldn't think he was "drunk onstage."
Despite his health issues, Jackson has continued to perform and create music. In 2022, he announced his Last Call Tour, emphasising his desire to perform as long as his health allowed. However, he had to postpone several tour dates due to his health, including the final two shows in October 2022.
In May 2024, Jackson announced that his disease was affecting his ability to play shows and that he would be bidding farewell to life on tour to focus on his health. During his concert in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he announced that the show would be his last road show, marking the end of his decades-long touring career. Jackson expressed his gratitude to his fans and stated that he still had one last show planned for Nashville, Tennessee.
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Jackson's rare disease and its symptoms
As of my last update on June 30, 2025, there is no recent news reporting that country music star Alan Jackson is in the hospital. However, in 2018, Jackson revealed that he had been diagnosed with a rare hereditary disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease. CMT is a neurological disorder that affects the peripheral nerves outside of the brain and spine. It is characterized by a gradual loss of muscle tissue and touch sensation, primarily in the feet, legs, and hands, although it can affect other areas of the body as well. The disease is named after the three scientists who first identified it: Jean-Martin Charcot, Pierre Marie, and Howard Henry Tooth.
CMT is caused by mutations in genes that affect the function of peripheral nerves, primarily those responsible for carrying signals to and from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. These mutations can disrupt the structure and function of the nerves, leading to a loss of sensation and muscle control. The specific symptoms and severity of CMT can vary widely from person to person, even among affected members of the same family.
The most common symptoms of CMT include foot deformities, such as high arches or flat feet, hammertoes, and curved feet. People with CMT can also experience muscle weakness and atrophy, especially in the lower legs and feet, making it difficult to walk and maintain balance. They may also have difficulty with fine motor skills and experience a loss of sensation in their limbs, particularly in their feet and hands, which can lead to a reduced ability to feel pain, temperature, and other sensations.
Other possible symptoms of CMT include fatigue, problems with hearing and speech, and issues with breathing and swallowing. In some cases, CMT can also affect the person's facial muscles, eye movement, and ability to speak clearly. The disease typically progresses slowly over time, and while it is not life-threatening, it can significantly impact a person's quality of life, making daily tasks and activities challenging.
There is currently no cure for CMT, but treatments are available to manage the symptoms and help people maintain their mobility and independence. These treatments may include physical therapy, occupational therapy, braces or other orthotic devices, and in some cases, surgery to correct foot deformities or stabilize joints. Pain management is also an important aspect of CMT treatment, as some people with CMT may experience severe pain due to nerve damage.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no indication that Alan Jackson is currently in the hospital. However, the country music star has been open about his diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a genetic neurological disorder that affects his mobility and balance. Jackson has had to postpone shows due to health issues related to the disease.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, also known as CMT, is a group of inherited neurological disorders that lead to nerve damage, specifically affecting the motor and sensory nerves that control the muscles in the feet, legs, hands, and arms. While it is not a fatal disease, it can severely restrict mobility and cause difficulty with balance and walking.
Alan Jackson has announced that he is winding down his touring career to focus on his health. In 2022, he embarked on his "Last Call" tour, but emphasized that he didn't want to refer to it as a farewell tour. In 2024, he announced the final dates of his "Last Call: One More for the Road" farewell tour, citing his desire to spend more time with his family and the progression of his health issues.
