Alan Jackson Extends Farewell Tour Amid Health Struggles: “I’m Going to Give Them the Best Show”
Country music icon Alan Jackson is refusing to let his health struggles silence his voice. On Thursday, the legendary singer announced that he will extend his Last Call: One More for the Road Tour, giving fans across the country another chance to see him perform live — even as he continues to battle a serious neurological condition.
Jackson, 66, was diagnosed in 2011 with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a progressive genetic disorder that damages nerves and impacts motor skills, balance, and muscle strength. He made the diagnosis public in 2021, explaining that it had become increasingly noticeable during live performances.
“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,” Jackson told NBC’s Today show at the time. “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. I know I’m stumbling around stage now … I just feel very uncomfortable.”
Despite the challenges, Jackson is determined to finish strong. In a statement released on his official website, the Country Music Hall of Famer promised fans that his shows will remain celebrations of his most beloved hits.
“Fans know when they come to my shows, they’re going to hear the songs that made me who I am — the ones they love,” he wrote. “I’ve been touring for over 30 years — my daughters are all grown, we have one grandchild and one on the way. I’m enjoying spending more time at home. But my fans always show up to have a good time, and I’m going to give them the best show I can for this Last Call.”
Originally launched in 2022, the farewell tour was billed as “one final chance” for audiences to experience the Georgia-born singer’s timeless catalog — from Chattahoochee to Remember When. The extension means even more cities and more fans will now have the opportunity to share in Jackson’s musical goodbye.
For Jackson, the decision to continue performing is both a gift to his fans and a personal act of courage. He has admitted that the disease has made him self-conscious on stage, particularly as he struggles with balance and mobility. “In some ways, it’s a relief [to talk about it],” he said. “I was starting to get so self-conscious up there about stumbling around. I think it’ll be good for me now to get it out in the open. If anybody’s curious about why I don’t walk right, that’s why.”
Though his touring future is limited, Jackson has reassured fans that his creativity is still alive and well. In 2023, during an appearance on his daughter Mattie Jackson’s podcast, In Joy Life, he revealed that he continues to write songs despite cutting back on performances.
“I’m always scribbling down ideas and thinking about melodies … I feel like there’ll be some more music to come, yes,” he said. “The creative part jumps out every now and then. [Writing songs] is more fulfilling than anything.”
The two-time Grammy winner has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, becoming one of the most successful and enduring artists in country music history. With his farewell tour now extended, fans will have one last chance to hear his music live — a fitting send-off for a man whose songs have defined love, loss, and life in America for more than three decades.
For Jackson, the message is clear: the music won’t stop, even if the road does.