An era is coming to an end. Alan Jackson — one of the most beloved voices in country music history — is saying goodbye.
Battling serious health issues
Alan Jackson, 66, one of the most beloved and bestselling country artists of all time, has officially confirmed he’s hanging up his cowboy hat. The “Chattahoochee” hitmaker previously announced that his “Last Call: One More for the Road Tour” would mark the final time fans would see him take the stage.
Now, that time has come.Jackson took his final bow on tour Saturday night in Milwaukee, marking the end of an unforgettable era.
Born in Georgia, Jackson has been battling serious health issues in recent years — a big reason behind his decision to step away from touring.
“Y’all may have heard that I’m kinda winding down. In fact, this is my last roadshow of my career,” Jackson told the Milwaukee crowd in a heartfelt video shared online.
“Y’all gonna make me tear up out here.”
But while this marks the end of his road tour days, he’s planning one final emotional farewell where it all began.
“I will say that this is my last road show out here, but we’re planning on doing a big finale show in Nashville next summer sometime,” he added. “I just felt like I had to end it all where it all started, and that’s in Nashville, Tennessee. But this is the last one out on the road for me.”
A genetic neurological condition
Jackson’s team has not yet commented further, but fans are already preparing for a bittersweet goodbye.
He launched the “Last Call” tour just a year after publicly revealing his battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease — a genetic neurological condition that affects muscle strength and balance. The illness is not deadly, but has affected his performances over the years. Both Jackson’s grandmother and older sister have CMT as well.
Though diagnosed in 2011, Jackson only recently began speaking openly about how it’s affected him.
“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,” he revealed during a Today show interview. “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.”
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The two-time Grammy winner admitted that performing has become physically challenging – the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is related to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.
“I know I’m stumbling around stage now,” Jackson said. “I’m having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone. I just feel very uncomfortable. In some ways it’s a relief [to talk about it] because I was starting to get so self-conscious up there about stumbling around. I think it’ll be good for me now to get it out in the open. If anybody’s curious at why I don’t walk right, that’s why.”
Isn’t done making music
Despite his diagnosis Jackson remains full of gratitude — not just for his fans, but for the journey he and his wife, Denise, began decades ago.
“It’s been a long, sweet ride. It started 40 years ago this September,” he told the crowd. “My wife and I drove to Nashville with an ol’ UHaul trailer, and chased this dream. It’s been a crazy ride. I lived the American dream for sure. So blessed.”
And though he’s stepping back from the spotlight, Jackson isn’t done making music. In 2023, he opened up on his daughter Mattie Jackson’s In Joy Life podcast about his plans to keep writing and recording.
“I’m always scribbling down ideas and thinking about melodies… I feel like there’ll be some more music to come, yes,” Jackson said.
“I may not have toured much, but again… like I said, the creative part jumps out every now and then.”
“[Writing songs] is more fulfilling than anything. It’s like, you can be a singer and go out and tour … but it’s kind of like you’re just doing the same thing over and over.”
With a final concert in Nashville planned for summer, Jackson’s farewell promises to be a powerful, emotional send-off — and one last chance for fans to thank a country legend who’s given them decades of unforgettable music.
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