Alan Jackson took the stage at 16 different stops a year ago during his last tour ‘One More For The Road.’ Months after these shows, he chatted with his daughter Mattie Jackson for her podcast ‘In Joy Life with Mattie Jackson,’ expressing his wish to keep creating music.
Unfortunately, the singer has health problems that make it hard for him to make live music. He was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease years ago, which he revealed in an interview with Today in 2021. Jackson explained the disease by saying:
“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease. 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. And 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.”
The CMT Research Foundation describes Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease as a degenerative neurological condition causing weaker and smaller muscles. People with this disorder often struggle with mobility issues and sensation decrease.
That’s why, although there is supportive therapy for it, the singer had a hard time with his movement. Despite that, he had no plans for retirement while announcing his disease. During the Today interview, he shared:
“I never wanted to do the big retirement tour, like people do, then take a year off and then come back. I think that’s kinda cheesy. And I’m not saying I won’t be able to tour. I’ll try to do as much as I can.”
In fact, after revealing his health issues, Jackson went on to perform in a tribute show for Loretta Lynn at CMT’s ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of the Life & Music of Loretta Lynn.’ He also named the late singer as one of his heroes during his 2022 tour announcement.
Opening up about her influence on his decision to keep performing, he said:
“I’ve always admired my heroes like George Jones, Merle Haggard, Loretta Lynn, and Charley Pride, who just played as much as they wanted to, as long as they could. I’ve always thought I’d like to do that, and I’d like to as long as my health will allow. I’ll try to do as much as I can, but if I’m comin’ your way, come see me.”
Since his announcement in 2021, Alan Jackson has not given further updates about his health condition. We only know that he had to reschedule a tour date in 2022 due to Covid-19 instead of the neurological disease.