Alan Jackson Opens Up About His 15-Year Health Battle Ahead Of Final Concert, What’s CMT Disease?

Alan Jackson has been a forerunner of country music for decades, and his contribution to the genre is widely regarded as one of the most influential in modern country music. With dozens of chart-topping hits and more than 75 million records sold worldwide, the singer has left an enduring legacy while staying true to the essence of country. 

After a remarkable four-decade career touring all over the world, the country icon is preparing to take the stage one last time. The 67-year-old singer’s final concert, Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale, is soon taking place at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, in the very city where his career first took off.

Alan Jackson is taking retirement after a gruelling 15 years of touring with a neurogenerative condition

Alan Jackson had been silently battling a neurogenerative condition for years before finally making it public. It was only in 2021 that the singer revealed his diagnosis with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, a condition he has been living with since 2011. During his appearance on Today in 2021, Jackson said:

“It’s been affecting me for years. And it’s getting more and more obvious. I know I’m not going to be able to tour like I have… I know I’m stumbling around on stage. And now I’m having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone.”

The Grammy-winning artist explained that the condition is hereditary and was passed down through his family. He got the condition from his father, who died in 2000 of a ruptured aorta. Over the years, the disease has increasingly affected the singer’s balance and mobility while performing.

What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease? Does it have a cure?

According to the Mayo Clinic, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a group of inherited disorders that damage the peripheral nerves. People with this condition experience a gradual weakening of the muscles in the limbs, especially in the feet, legs, and hands. Over time, it can affect a person’s balance and make walking difficult, and some people may have speech or swallowing difficulties.

Unfortunately, there is currently no cure for CMT, and patients typically have to focus on managing the symptoms with different types of physical and occupational therapy, along with mobility and pain management aids. Though progressive, the disease generally doesn’t shorten a person’s life expectancy. When Jackson shared his diagnosis on Today, he had hinted at a retirement, saying:

“I don’t want fans to think I’m drunk on stage. I have this neuropathy, a neurological disease I inherited from my daddy… It’s not deadly, but it will eventually disable me.” 

Alan Jackson’s career defined modern country music

The farewell concert marks the close of one of the most successful voices of modern country music. The country crooner began his career on the grounds of Nashville itself, beginning his career trajectory with his breakout album Here in the Real World in 1990, which became his first #1 single. With just that one album, he achieved immense success, with 40,000 fans attending his first European appearance later that year.

Since his 1990 debut, the Georgia native has amassed 35 No. 1 hits, 50 Top 10 singles, and sold more than 75 million records worldwide. His catalogue includes timeless hits such as Chattahoochee, Remember When, Livin’ on Love, and Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning). Over the years, Jackson has bagged two Grammy Awards, 16 CMA Awards, and 17 ACM Awards. For his timeless contribution, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.

More about Alan Jackson’s farewell concert

Jackson’s farewell concert is being held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, bringing together some of Country music’s biggest stars, including Luke Bryan, Luke Combs, Eric Church, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Thomas Rhett, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, and Lee Ann Womack. 

While the stadium is already witnessing tens of thousands of fans despite the rough weather, those who couldn’t attend in person can watch the milestone performance on the NBC primetime special, Alan Jackson: The Last Show. Jackson’s official website states that USD 3 from each ticket sale goes to the CMT Research Foundation.

For the country icon, the sold-out Nashville concert is more than a goodbye. It’s a full-circle moment, closing the curtain in the very city where his journey began four decades ago.

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Pics: Alan Jackson/Instagram, alanjackson.com