Throughout his decades-long career, Alan Jackson has always been an excellent showman. The country music icon gives his all on the stage, but he has been dealing with health challenges behind the scenes. Back in 2021, Jackson told TODAY that he was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in 2011.
As the National Organization for Rare Disorders explains, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, or CMT is a degenerative condition that impacts motor, sensory or peripheral nerves. In his interview, Jackson shared that the disease runs in his family. “It’s genetic,” he said. “I inherited [it] from my daddy.” Unfortunately, as the disease has progressed, it has impacted Jackson’s ability to perform at his best during live shows.
The Singer Reported Issues With Walking and Balance
GettyWhile speaking with TODAY, Jackson shared that CMT has made it more difficult to move around on stage while performing for fans. “I know I’m stumbling around on stage,” he said. “And now I’m having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable.”
The singer’s experience with CMT is sadly typical for people with this condition. Symptoms often include muscle weakness, mobility problems, and poor circulation, along with many other issues that would make live music performances exceptionally challenging. This is especially true as someone ages, since symptoms worsen over time.
Jackson Listed CMT as One of the Reasons He’s Retiring
GettyJackson is set to play his last-ever live show in Milwaulkee on May 17th, and his illness is a big factor in his upcoming retirement. In June 2024, the singer shared an update on how CMT is impacting his health now.
“As most of my fans know, I have a degenerative health condition,” the singer said in the video. “It’s getting worse, so, it makes me more uncomfortable on the stage….And I just want to think about maybe calling it quits before I’m not able to do the job like I want to.”
Walking away from music can’t have been an easy choice for Jackson, who has been a fixture in country for over three decades. However, he does have something to look forward to in retirement. As he shared in the video, one of his daughters was pregnant with his first grandchild at the time. As Southern Living reported later that year, the singer soon welcomed a new grandson, Wesley Alan Smith, to his growing family.
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Alan Jackson: Inside His Hidden Struggle With Rare Illness