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Introduction
At age 66, Alan Jackson has finally revealed the deeply personal reason he decided to step away from touring and, in many ways, from life on the road — a hereditary, degenerative nerve condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). Diagnosed in 2011 but not making it public until 2021, Jackson explained that over the years the illness has slowly eroded his balance, his mobility, and his confidence while performing. He admitted that he has increasingly “stumbled around on stage” and that the effects of CMT — which include weakening in his legs, arms, and hands — are now obvious enough that he feels physically uncomfortable in front of a microphone.
Jackson emphasizes that the disease is not fatal, but that it is progressive and inevitably disabling. He said that although he once pushed through the symptoms — because of his love for music, his fans, and his instinct to create — the time has come when performing live no longer feels sustainable in the ways he once imagined.At his final “Last Call: One More for the Road” tour stop in Milwaukee in May 2025, he acknowledged to the crowd that this would be his last roadshow and that his stage presence was already being shaped by what his body could still do.
Still, Jackson has made clear that leaving the road doesn’t mean giving up creativity entirely. Songwriting has become his outlet, something he plans to continue as long as he can. He also expressed gratitude for his supporters: his fans, his family (especially his wife Denise), and even the difficulties that come with CMT, which finally forced him to address what many had noticed over time. “I don’t want them to think I’m drunk on stage because I’m having problems with mobility and balance,” he said.
In short, Alan Jackson’s quitting of live touring “for good” is less about stage fright or loss of passion, and much more about confronting a condition that is gradually limiting his physical ability to perform — and choosing dignity, honesty, and respect for his craft over pushing through until something gives. Though the applause and lights may fade, he leaves behind a legacy shaped not just by his hits but by his courage.