A chapter is closing. Alan Jackson — one of country music’s most cherished voices — is saying goodbye.
Facing Health Challenges
Alan Jackson, 66, a legendary and bestselling country star, has officially announced he’s retiring from touring. His “Last Call: One More for the Road Tour” was always meant to be his final series of live performances, and now that moment has arrived. Jackson took his final curtain call on Saturday night in Milwaukee, bringing an unforgettable era to a close.
Born in Georgia, Jackson has been contending with serious health problems for several years, which played a major role in his decision to step away from the road.
“You may have heard I’m winding down,” Jackson shared with the Milwaukee audience in a touching video released online. “This is the last time you’ll see me on the road.”
He added emotionally, “Y’all might make me tear up out here.”
While this tour marked his last on the road, Jackson plans one final farewell show where it all began.
“I’ll say this is my final roadshow, but we’re planning a big finale in Nashville next summer,” he said. “I wanted to finish where it started — Nashville, Tennessee. But this is my last time touring.”
Battling a Genetic Neurological Disorder
Jackson’s team hasn’t provided further details, but fans are already bracing for a heartfelt goodbye.
The “Last Call” tour came a year after Jackson publicly revealed his struggle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a hereditary neurological disorder affecting muscle strength and coordination. Though not fatal, the disease has impacted his stage performances. Both his grandmother and older sister also suffer from the condition.
Though diagnosed in 2011, Jackson only recently opened up about how the illness has affected him.
“I have a neuropathy — a neurological disease passed down from my dad,” he explained in an interview on the Today show. “There’s no cure, but it’s been affecting me for years, and it’s getting more noticeable.”
The two-time Grammy winner admitted performing has become physically difficult. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is related to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.
“I’m stumbling more on stage now,” Jackson shared. “I’m having trouble balancing, even near the microphone. It’s uncomfortable. It’s a relief to finally talk about it because I was getting self-conscious about stumbling. If anyone’s wondering why I don’t walk quite right, that’s the reason.”
Still Passionate About Music
Despite his diagnosis, Jackson remains grateful — not only to his fans but also for the life journey he and his wife, Denise, embarked on decades ago.
“It’s been a long, sweet ride. Started 40 years ago this September,” he told the crowd. “My wife and I drove to Nashville in an old U-Haul trailer, chasing a dream. It’s been wild. I truly lived the American dream. So blessed.”
Though he’s stepping back from performing live, Jackson isn’t finished creating music. In 2023, during an interview on his daughter Mattie Jackson’s In Joy Life podcast, he spoke about continuing to write and record songs.
“I’m always jotting down ideas and thinking of melodies,” he said. “There will be more music, for sure.”
“I might not tour much, but the creative side of me keeps coming out,” he added.
“Writing songs is more fulfilling than anything else. You can tour and sing, but that’s just repeating the same thing.”
With a final concert planned for Nashville next summer, Jackson’s farewell promises to be a deeply moving celebration — one last opportunity for fans to honor a country music legend who’s given them decades of unforgettable songs.
What are your favorite Alan Jackson memories? Share your thoughts in the comments, and please spread this story to celebrate a true music icon!
