After silently battling Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease for over a decade, country music star Alan Jackson revealed in 2021 that his condition is becoming more noticeable. Recently, he provided an update on his health and future performances.
At 65, Jackson shared his struggles with Today’s Jenna Bush Hager, explaining that the neuropathy and neurological disease is genetic, inherited from his father. “It’s not going to kill me. It’s not deadly,” he said, likening it to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, described by John Hopkins Medicine, is an inherited disorder affecting the nerves in the feet, legs, hands, and arms, caused by genetic defects from parents. Jackson noted that his grandmother and older sister also have CMT.
“It’s getting more obvious. I’m stumbling on stage, and now I’m having trouble balancing even in front of the microphone,” the Georgia-born singer admitted.
Throughout his career, Jackson has had unwavering support from his wife, Denise Jackson, his high school sweetheart. The couple, married in 1979, has three daughters: Mattie, Ali, and Dani. Despite a brief separation in 1998, Denise remains his biggest champion.
Denise, a former flight attendant, once met the late Glen Campbell, who played a pivotal role in Jackson’s career by connecting him with Nashville’s music scene. Jackson expressed his gratitude to Campbell after his death in 2017.
In his interview with Bush Hager, Denise praised her husband, saying, “We’ve had a fairy tale life.”
In 2022, Jackson honored Denise while accepting the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, acknowledging her support throughout their journey.
Jackson’s Last Call: One More for the Road Tour was launched the same year, emphasizing it was not a farewell tour. “I never wanted to do the big retirement tour,” he said, expressing his desire to keep performing as long as possible.
Share your favorite memories of Alan Jackson in the comments below and spread love for the legendary singer who’s “keepin’ it country.”
