Alan Jackson's final tour is over. Why his health condition has him calling it a career
After a 40-year journey in music, Jackson, 66, announced that the show on May 17 would be his last on tour—ever.
The tour began in 2022 and continued through May 2025. The decision to tour one last time came despite his ongoing battle with a chronic neuropathy condition, which he first revealed in 2021.
In addition to the final show of his tour, Jackson made a special announcement during the May 17 concert: he will return to Nashville in the summer of 2026 for one final performance.
The exact date and location for the show will be revealed at a later time.
For over a decade, Jackson has battled Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, an illness that has affected his ability to move and stay balanced on stage.
In a 2021 interview with the "TODAY" show's Jenna Bush Hager, Jackson said he inherited the disease from his father, and it has affected several members of his family.
He was diagnosed with the disease in 2011.
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease causes a range of sensory and motor symptoms, including numbness, tingling, pain, muscle weakness and atrophy — deterioration in cells, tissues, and organs. The disease can also cause foot deformities that worsen over time.
In some cases, the disease can affect the nerves that control automatic body functions, leading to problems with sweating and dizziness.
Muscle weakness from the disease typically begins in the feet and lower legs during the teen years or early adulthood, though symptoms can appear at any age, reported the institute. Over time, the weakness may spread to the fingers, hands, and arms. Some individuals with CMT might be unaware they have the condition, while others may experience physical disabilities.
Symptoms may include:
Weakness or paralysis in the foot and lower leg muscles
A high-stepping walking pattern with frequent tripping or falling
Balance problems
Foot deformities, like high arches and curled toes
Lower legs with an "inverted champagne bottle" shape due to the loss of muscle bulk
Trouble feeling heat, cold and touch
Possible hand weakness and atrophy
Decreased ability to sense vibrations or know body position
Scoliosis
Hip displacement
A chronic shortening of muscles or tendons around joints
Muscle cramps
Nerve pain
Charcot-Marie-Tooth is mostly an inherited disorder, meaning people with a family history of the disease are more likely to develop it. If a person has the disease, that doesn't mean their children will have it, but it does increase the risk, said the institute.
There is no cure for the disease, however treatment programs like physical and occupational therapy can help manage symptoms and help people maintain quality of life, said the institute.
Orthopedic devices and surgery may help with symptoms, and doctors may prescribe medication for severe nerve pain.
Vanessa Countryman is the Trending Topics Reporter for the the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Alan Jackson health condition: Why he's calling it a career from touring
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