Alan Jackson’s family is feeling disheartened, seeing him every day uncomfortable and struggling with his illness; because it affects the nerves that control movement, it is truly frustrating to live with. Even in their sadness, they know he is still the same resilient Alan, so they can only hold on to faith in a miracle — as it is a hereditary disease with nothing else they can do…

Alan Jackson’s health journey took a deeply personal turn in 2021 when he publicly revealed that he had been living for over a decade with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease — a hereditary nerve disorder that affects muscle strength, sensation, and mobility. Speaking candidly with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager at the time, Jackson explained that the condition was something he had inherited from his father and had been slowly worsening over the years.

“It’s genetic that I inherited from my daddy. … There’s no cure for it, but it’s been affecting me for years,” he said. “I know I’m stumbling around on stage. And now I’m having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone.” While not deadly, Jackson noted that CMT is related to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease in how it impacts the nervous system.

For much of his career, Jackson avoided the concept of a formal farewell tour, saying in 2021, “I never wanted to do the big retirement tour, like people do, then take a year off and then come back.” But as the disease progressed, the physical toll became harder to ignore.

On May 17, 2024, during a sold-out show in Milwaukee, he addressed fans directly, announcing that this would be his final road tour. “Y’all may have heard that I’m kinda winding down. In fact, this is my last road show,” he said, visibly moved. “I’m so blessed. Thank you all so much for supporting my music. I’m living the American dream for sure.” Still, he promised one last performance in Nashville, where his career began, to close the chapter on his own terms.

Jackson has used his platform to raise awareness about CMT, donating a portion of each ticket sale to the CMT Research Foundation. Over the course of his tour, those contributions — along with fan donations and matching gifts — totaled more than $2.25 million for research efforts. Despite the challenges, he has continued to perform as much as possible, even as he admits the stage is becoming a more difficult place to navigate.

In a 2024 social media video, he reflected on his decision: “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.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease affects the peripheral nerves that control movement and sensation in the arms and legs. Common symptoms include muscle weakness, reduced reflexes, loss of sensation, and difficulty walking, often accompanied by foot deformities such as high arches or hammertoes. Symptoms typically begin in adolescence or early adulthood, though they can also appear later in life — as in Jackson’s case — and gradually worsen over time.

For Jackson, the diagnosis has been both a physical challenge and a personal reckoning. It has forced him to weigh the career he loves against the realities of a progressive condition. Yet, true to his reputation for humility and gratitude, he has framed his farewell not as an ending, but as a thank-you — to the fans, the music, and the life he calls “a long, sweet ride” that began more than 40 years ago.

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