Latest news with #JohnDriskellHopkins
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
After ALS diagnosis, Zac Brown Band member pens honest ballad for his daughters
After ALS diagnosis, Zac Brown Band member pens honest ballad for his daughters Show Caption Hide Caption ALS experts seek to increase awareness for case reporting ALS is a really tough, fatal neurodegenerative disease that robs a person of the ability to move, speak and walk. Fox - 2 Detroit In the three and a half years since John Driskell Hopkins was diagnosed with ALS, his voice has slowed a beat and he struggles with balance, often using a walking stick to navigate airports and snaking backstage hallways. But, he says with an optimistic lilt, 'compared to a lot of people, I'm doing great.' He wiggles his fingers on a video call from a dressing room in Cincinnati, where the Zac Brown Band will play that night, to show 'they still work.' Hopkins, 54, has long circled among guitar, bass, banjo and ukulele in the group, which has adapted to any changes he's needed to make to keep his vocal or guitar parts. 'I'm hoping to be out there as long as I can. Sometimes I feel like (performing) gives me more inspiration to keep going,' he says. Though Hopkins' form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – also known as Lou Gehrig's disease – is progressing slowly as it attacks his upper motor neurons that primarily affect the brain, he is accepting of a diagnosis with a lifespan that doesn't often extend past five years. 'Something could happen tomorrow and I could be paralyzed,' he says. 'But typically if you get to five years after diagnosis, they may say this is presenting more like PLS (primary lateral sclerosis). But it's a non-starter in the conversation because nothing has changed. It just means a lower progression rate, which I can be grateful for.' John Driskell Hopkins pens song for his daughters The day of Hopkins' diagnosis in December 2021 was devastating. He and Jennifer, his wife of 17 years, had plans to take their daughters Sarah Grace and twins Lily Faith and Margaret Hope, now 16 and 13, to Callaway Gardens in their Atlanta hometown to see the annual holiday lights display. After agonizing over the decision, the couple decided to 'make the best of it' with their girls. But that night, Hopkins couldn't sleep, haunted by the cruel reality of his diagnosis. 'I kept wondering what I could possibly say to my kids about this. You want to try to come up with this fatherly advice,' he says. 'They're kids. They haven't been to college or gotten married. All of these things you expect a parent to help with and be there for, it was looking like I might not be there for it.' The one thought Hopkins couldn't shake was, 'I love you forever,' which he's turned into a song with the same title after working on it for months after his diagnosis with Zac Brown Band comrade Clay Cook. 'It's tricky to think of things that haven't happened yet and try to get ahead of them because you're told your experience is going to be cut short,' he says. The poignant piano ballad, which Hopkins released in May for ALS Awareness Month, is a valentine to his loved ones as he speak-sings lyrics such as 'I don't know how long this body will hold me/but my hope for you is you will grow old/we will be together in the ever after.' The closing verse is especially heart-rending, as Hopkins uses his storyteller approach to quietly offer, 'You girls and your mother/you have one another to hold and lean on/always know that.' Life is slower, but 'business as usual' Hopkins is trying to stay busy both with music – the Zac Brown Band has a few dates through June and he continues to work on his own music, including another Christmas album – and helping others with ALS. Three years ago, he and Jennifer started the Hop on a Cure foundation to support research to prevent and seek a cure for ALS, while also raising awareness about the disease. Hopkins moves his hands to show the regularities of his life these days – 'music, family, foundation. Music, family foundation' – and says he is as involved as possible with the daily undertakings of the organization. 'In the three years we've been a foundation, we've granted over $4 million in research projects. That's no small feat but nowhere close enough to what we need,' he says. 'We have to fund as many research projects as possible because we don't know which one is going to hit. We're learning a lot, but there is still no cure or treatment that will stop it.' Despite the grim truths of his condition, Hopkins is approaching life as 'slower, but business as usual.' He took his daughters and 'a busload of girls' to Olivia Rodrigo and Billie Eilish concerts last year in Atlanta and met up with his bandmates to catch Tool and Pearl Jam. Normalcy is a challenge, but it's become almost a self mandate. 'I do need to get more rest,' Hopkins admits. 'But I don't want to miss out on anything.'
Forbes
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Zac Brown Band's John Driskell Hopkins Battles ALS With Strength, Courage & Hope For A Cure
Singer, Songwriter and Multi-instrumentalist John Driskell Hopkins ("Hop") Three-time GRAMMY winner John Driskell Hopkins, who friends and family call 'Hop,' is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He's also a founding member of the Zac Brown Band. The close-knit Georgia-based group has been together a long time. 'I've been in the band 20 years, and we all come from Atlanta,' he says. 'We were grown when we started playing together but have continued to grow together over the past two decades and we are certainly family.' That sense of family has shined through as Hop battles ALS, an incurable, progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. (ALS is also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease after the famous major league baseball player who died from it in 1941.) Hop continues touring with Zac Brown, writing songs, playing multiple instruments, and singing harmony, but has slowed down some, as he works to keep pace with his changing body. The Zac Brown Band perform onstage during Zac Brown Band Special New Year's Eve Show at State Farm ... More Arena on December 31, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by) About five years ago, he began noticing small signs that something was 'off' physically. 'The first thing I noticed was my strum in 2019,' he recalls. 'But it took two-and-a-half years to figure out what was going on.' Doctors eventually got the answer and delivered the news to Hop and his wife on December 22, 2021. 'My wife started crying," Hop recalls. "And I didn't know much about ALS, but I knew it was bad. The doctor said ALS is a two-to-five-year diagnosis before you're gone.' He immediately began thinking about what it would mean for his young daughters. 'I spent the night trying to figure out what to say to the girls and how to plan for wrapping up the next 30 years in a moment. I started thinking, if I'm going to die in two years, what do my daughters need to hear from me? The only thing I could come up with that sums it all up was 'I Love You Forever.' The phrase would evolve into a song. 'It started slowly with those few words and turned into a forecasting of fatherly wisdom," he says. 'Hopefully it's a message that will transcend my passing.' Since learning he has ALS, Hop has focused on continuing to create music, spending time with family, and forming an organization to raise money for ALS research. His family and fellow Zac Brown Band members have rallied behind him. His wife, Jennifer, co-founded 'Hop For A Cure,' and his brother, David Hopkins, left his theater teaching job to run it. Logo for John Driskell Hopkin's "Hop On A Cure" Foundation In a little over three years, 'Hop For A Cure' has raised enough money to grant over 4.1 million dollars in ALS research grants. Hop's brother says the race is on to learn so much more about a disease that remains such a mystery. 'We are raising as much money as we can, as quickly as we can, because research for ALS is underfunded,' says David Hopkins. 'The reality is nobody really understands this disease. They don't realize people lose their motor neurons and become 'locked in.' The brain stops transmitting to the muscles, so people with ALS lose their ability to move, eat, speak, and ultimately breathe.' And yet, it has no effect on cognitive skills. Those who eventually feel their body shutting down around them remain mentally sharp throughout the progression of the disease. Recently, researchers have discovered 10-percent of ALS cases may be familial (have a genetic tie), but there is no clear reason for the other 90-percent of cases diagnosed. Hop's case falls into that broader category. The Recording Academy has been following Hop's journey for a segment in their video series Family Matters. Hop, his wife and brother, members of Zac Brown Band, and others were featured. It looks at the early days of the band, its evolving success, Hop's many contributions, then some of the changes in music, and in life, as his ALS has progressed. It's honest, emotional, but also has bits of humor - offering a little levity as everyone deals with the heavy challenges of Hop's disease. While there's no set date yet for when the Family Matters episode will be made available to the public, the Recording Academy held a special screening in Nashville last week to coincide with ALS Awareness Month. Many who appear in the film were on hand for a panel discussion afterward. Pictured L-R: Paul Maderia (Sr. Managing Director/Executive Producer, The Recording Academy), Matt ... More Mangano (Zac Brown Band Member), Jennifer Hopkins (Co-Founder of Hop On A Cure), John Driskell Hopkins, Dr. Richard Bedlack (Duke University ALS Clinic), David Hopkins (VP of Community Investments, Hop On A Cure), Alicia Warwick (Sr. Executive Director of The Recording Academy Nashville Chapter) ALS affects everyone differently and Hop is grateful his progression has been slow. 'I'm lucky,' he admits. 'I'm not in a wheelchair yet, but I do use a cane. I have no atrophy and my fingers all work. My voice is slowing, my range is slowing, and my breath control is suffering. Here he stops, smiles, then adds, 'But I'm still singing it, so I'm still bringing it.' John Driskell Hopkins "Hop" He's also continuing to write songs. He sees music as a big part of his legacy. 'So many people have fond memories of those that have passed and those that have taught them things or influenced them in some way. But hopefully, my music will live forever. Even after the lessons have been taught, the feelings shared, and the life spent, the music continues to be played.' His song for his daughters is one small part of that. He hopes it will not only comfort them in the years ahead but also touch the hearts of others. 'I want it to be as meaningful to everyone as it is to us. I feel like we don't say it enough.' John Driskell Hopkins with his wife and daughters. Hop says when they first got the diagnosis, he and his wife considered the possibility of pulling out of the spotlight and retiring, concerned at how difficult it might be for his daughters to have their family's difficult journey made public. But he says he wants them to know that whatever happens, he fought ALS to the end. 'I want them to know we've done everything we can and the only way to fix this is to use the platform we've been given to make our own impact and raise money for research to fix it. The only way any of us get out of this is finding a way to heal motor neurons. And when we do, we'll find a way to beat ALS, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and several others that fall into that motor neuron category.' To learn more about ALS and how you can help through his foundation, visit
Kuwait Times
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Kuwait Times
Kuwait and China expand renewable energy cooperation
It's been over three years since Zac Brown Band bassist and songwriter John Driskell Hopkins was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease). Now, he's offering an update on his condition, and sharing an emotional new song that he wrote for his wife and daughters, "I Love You Forever." According to the Mayo Clinic , ALS is a "progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control." There is no cure for ALS. The average life expectancy for a person with ALS after diagnosis is about 2-5 years. When he first announced his diagnosis, Hopkins described his symptoms as "slow-progressing." Today, Hopkins continues to perform with Zac Brown Band. He and the band launched a foundation called Hop on a Cure that supports research to prevent, reverse and cure ALS. Hopkins has made some modifications to his performances, like slowing down his guitar parts, and he no longer jumps onstage like other members of the band. "I really wish I could run out into the thrust and jump, but I am parked over at my microphone," he tells People . "And they come run over to me and they never let me feel like I'm not involved. And that's wonderful." He also says that he believes his continuing involvement in his music career is having a positive impact on his health. "For me, keeping going is really important," he says elsewhere in his People interview. "I feel like if I did sit in a recliner and play the whole 'woe is me' card, I would be a lot worse off." He tells Us Weekly that he was inspired to write "I Love You Forever" as a way to bottle up everything he wants his family to know after he loses the ability to communicate with them verbally. "The only thing I could think of was, 'What do I say to my girls that will wrap everything up in one phrase?'" he explains. "'I Love You Forever' was the only thing that made sense. I've turned the song into a bit of a fatherly advice piece." Here Are the Lyrics to John Driskell Hopkins' "I Love You Forever": Today is the only day that we are given / Life is a festival, you should be livin' / Don't worry, baby / When things get crazy True friends are loyal, they love us in spite / Of our faults and bring joy all throughout our whole lives / The slings and arrows are weak / And shallow Chorus: And I love you forever / Alone or together / Perfect days, stormy weather / I love you forever Boys don't need nearly as much as they tell you / Patience is prudent when all hell breaks loose / Children need holding / Even when scolding And I don't know how long this body will hold me / But my hope for you is you will grow old / We will be together in the ever after Repeat Chorus Wait / There's love all around you / Reminds you that all is not lost / Oh, wait / You girls and your mother / You have one another to hold and lean on / Always know that Repeat Chorus You are my sunshine in stormy weather / Forever together / I love you forever Carly Pearce, Mark Chesnutt and Colt Ford have all made headlines recently for serious medical problems, but they are not the only country stars living with chronic illness. Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Popular Country Star Shares Emotional Health Update Amid Ongoing ALS Battle
John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band is sharing a health update amid his battle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). During a May 12 interview with Us Weekly, Hopkins, who received his ALS diagnosis in 2021, noted that he is still able to speak, sing, walk, and play instruments. "Just the fact that I'm speaking to you and walking around and able to still sing and play is kind of unheard of in the averages of this disease. So we're very grateful and doing everything we can to stay on top of it," said Hopkins to the publication. According to Hopkins, his bandmates have been a constant source of support, even if he doesn't always want their assistance. 'Often I lovingly slap their hands away and say, 'I'll ask when I need it,' but they're all family and they totally get it," said the 54-year-old during the Us Weekly interview. Hopkins, who has continued to tour with the Zac Brown Band, shared that he believes singing has helped him navigate the neurodegenerative disease. "I think singing actually helps me, just the act of doing," said Hopkins. "Sometimes, I will be having a bad voice day on the talking side, and I will have a gig and have to sing, and everything goes great. It's really odd how the mind works like that, but I feel like being able to continue is helping me continue.' Hopkins shared that songwriting helped him break the news of his ALS diagnosis to his daughters, whom he shares with his wife, Jennifer Hopkins. "The only thing I could think of was, 'What do I say to my girls that will wrap everything up in one phrase? What if I'm not able to communicate?'" said Hopkins to the publication. He said he was able to convey what he needed to in his new song "I Love You Forever." "I Love You Forever' was the only thing that made sense. I've turned the song into a bit of a fatherly advice piece," said Hopkins to Us Weekly. Hopkins then shared that his three children have been incredibly helpful amid his ALS journey. According to the singer, they are "ready to help [him]" anytime they think he may be "struggling with a step or a treacherous part of an outdoor activity." He clarified that his ALS diagnosis hasn't caused too much of a disruption in their lives. "We remain busy with their schedules and we don't always have time to think about my instability, but I'm still able to drive them to activities and their lives, fortunately, haven't changed much as a result of this," said Hopkins while speaking to the publication. Hopkins opened up about his 2021 ALS diagnosis during a November 2024 interview with CBS Mornings. Hopkins said he was diagnosed with ALS two years after he first noticed that his "right hand was slowing down in 2019." He also said that he has been "very blessed to have a slow progression" with the disease. "But it still is a progression. And I'm not jumping on stage anymore. And I'm slowing down a lot," continued Hopkins. Hopkins then said he has been experiencing some difficulty "speaking, walking, and playing as quickly as [he] used." He also shared some advice to anyone who is going through something similar with their health. "Every day counts. And we're not promised tomorrow. And when I was diagnosed, I thought to myself, 'I guess I'm next.' I'm the next one in my group of friends and my family to go. And that wasn't true. There's always hope," said Hopkins.
