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Alan Jackson Opens Up About Health Struggles as He Concludes Touring Career

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Country music legend Alan Jackson has officially stepped away from touring, closing the book on more than four decades on the road as he continues to battle a rare neurological condition.

The 66-year-old star, whose career has produced timeless hits like Chattahoochee, Remember When, and Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning), announced his final tour stop during a sold-out 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,” Jackson told the crowd, his voice heavy with emotion. In a video later posted to his official Instagram account, he added, “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.”

Though he has now officially retired from life on the road, Jackson promised fans one last farewell performance in the city where his career took root: Nashville, Tennessee. “We’re planning on doing a big finale where it all started, and that’s in Music City,” he confirmed.

Living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Jackson first revealed in 2021 that he had been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), a hereditary nerve disorder that affects mobility and balance. Speaking in an exclusive interview with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager at the time, Jackson said he had learned about his condition a decade earlier but decided to go public once it began to visibly affect his performances.

“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,” Jackson explained. “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 on stage. And now I’m having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable.”

While the disease is not fatal, it is progressive. CMT weakens the muscles in the legs, feet, hands, and arms, making mobility increasingly difficult. According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition can also cause foot deformities, loss of sensation, and muscle contractions. Jackson has compared his symptoms to those seen in conditions such as muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.

A Reluctant Goodbye

At the time of his 2021 announcement, Jackson insisted he had no intention of mounting a flashy “retirement tour.” “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. I’ll try to do as much as I can.”

He stayed true to his word. His “Last Call: One More for the Road Tour” began in 2022 and stretched over multiple years, giving fans across the country the chance to hear him live one final time. Each ticket sold included a $1 donation to the CMT Research Foundation, raising more than $2.25 million through donations, matching contributions, and other efforts.

Still, the physical toll of performing eventually became too great. In a May 2024 social media update, Jackson acknowledged the disease was progressing. “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. It makes me more uncomfortable on stage. I just want to think about maybe calling it quits before I’m unable to do the job like I want to.”

A Legacy Beyond the Stage

Despite stepping back from touring, Jackson has assured fans that his creativity remains intact. He continues to write and record music, with plans for future releases. “I’m always scribbling down ideas and thinking about melodies … I feel like there’ll be some more music to come,” he said.

For Jackson, the end of touring is not the end of music, but rather a chance to refocus on his health, his family, and the songwriting legacy that has already secured his place among the greats of country music.

“It’s been a long, sweet ride,” Jackson reflected during his farewell concert. “It started 40 years ago this September.”

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