Alan Jackson Officially Plays Final Roadshow, Reveals Nashville Finale
According to Alan Jackson, he just played the final touring show of his Hall of Fame career. It’s the end of an era in country music as one of country music’s greatest superstars took his final bow on tour.
Alan Jackson took the stage at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Saturday night, May 17th to a sold out crowd. Though it was the final date on the calendar of his Last Call: One More for the Road Tour that Jackson first announced in 2022, fans didn’t exactly know if it would be the final official date, or if the tour might be extended as it has been over the last few years.
But while addressing the crowd in Milwaukee Saturday night, the 66 year old confirmed it: Milwaukee was the final stop of the tour. Alan Jackson will, however, have one final goodbye in the future.
“Y’all may have heard that I’m kinda winding down. In fact, this is my last roadshow,” Jackson told the crowd, who broke into applause and a standing ovation. “Y’all gonna make me tear up up here,” Jackson said.
Then Alan Jackson said he will play one more show back where it all started.
“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 [2026]. 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.”
Jackson continued, “It’s been a long, sweet ride. It started 40 years ago this September. 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.”
Alan Jackson addressed the sellout Milwaukee crowd. He said this is his last road show. He said he plans on one last show in Nashville next summer to close things out. pic.twitter.com/sDj8LVxZAz
— Steven Radmer (@Steven_R) May 18, 2025
In September of 2021, Alan Jackson revealed that he’s been suffering from a degenerative nerve condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, nicknamed (somewhat ironically) CMT. He was diagnosed with the condition ten years prior to his announcement. It primarily affects the peripheral nervous system causing balance issues by compromising smaller muscles in the body’s extremities. It’s related to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.
The good news is that the disease is not life threatening, nor does it affect longevity. But CMT does significantly affect coordination, which has restricted Alan Jackson’s ability to perform. Alan Jackson said at the time, “I never wanted to do the big retirement tour, like people do, then take a year off and then come back. I think that’s kinda cheesy.” And so he didn’t announce a hard end to his tour, until now.
Currently, there are no further details about the final show in Nashville in the Summer of 2026. But rest assured, it will be a big one.
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May 17, 2025 @ 10:28 pm
A legend and a class act. Fortunate back in 2012 to have seen him in my hometown of Salina, Kansas. One of the best ever.
May 17, 2025 @ 10:44 pm
Damn, was he clowning George Strait with that last comment? 😬
May 17, 2025 @ 11:15 pm
Pretty much every single music artist who has ever retired has the unretired.George Strait is just one of many. Some folks were frustrated that Jackson didn’t officially announce that Milwaukee would be his final tour stop, but I think he didn’t want to make a big spectacle of it, only to play yet another show in Nashville. We’ll see if Jackson stays retired too. But with his health issues, it might be one of the few retirements that stick.
May 19, 2025 @ 6:23 am
Well with George, he never formally said that it was a complete retirement, it was just the end of him doing full tours and instead doing pocket tours with Chris Stapleton.
May 19, 2025 @ 7:30 am
Yeah, but since then he’s gone on what could every easily be characterized as “tours.” He’s played 12-1`4 shows per year ever since. People expected maybe one or two. I’m not here to pile on Strait, because ALL “retired” artists do this except Barbara Mandrell. Robert Earl Keen might be the worst example. But a lot of folks who spent a lot of money to see George Strait’s final tour and show feel misled.
May 19, 2025 @ 9:16 am
The other act that notably retired and stayed retired was the Statler Brothers.
May 19, 2025 @ 12:11 pm
I really don’t think most fans see it that way. For the vast majority of people, if you like an artist, you want them to continue performing. I saw Robert Earl Keen on his “farewell tour” at Irving Plaza–and if he comes back there next year I may go again–as will many of the same people who went before. It’s not like REK is going to attract a NEW set of fans. The one exception, where you might feel duped is if you pay a super-premium, wallet-busting price for a “last concert” ticket and they barely pause their concert schedule.
I’d be willing to bet that if you could track down all the people who attended George Strait’s “farewell” tour in 2013-2014 and his “final” concert on June 7, 2014, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, you’d find that the vast majority of them are glad that he’s still performing and making albums and that many of them have gone to see him again. Why wouldn’t they?–They’re George Strait fans! And it was a slam-bang show with lots of guest stars and surprises. There are surely a lot more fans who wish they could have been there than ones who regret that they went.
May 17, 2025 @ 11:24 pm
Sad. That “CMT” illness is horrible, but Jackson doesn’t complain and talks about how blessed he is to have the success that he’s had.
And tonight (Sunday) wii be the farewell concert for another, much older legend, Johnny Mathis, packing it in at 89..
I know it ain’t gonna happen, but wouldn’t it be a kick if Alan showed up in Englewood , NJ and duetted with Johnny on this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo9ZsfewO40
May 18, 2025 @ 5:57 am
Was so glad to get to finally see him when he started this farewell tour. Was a great show, little short for obvious reasons but still packed with lots of songs. Im hoping he still puts out a few songs here n there but we will see. Far as his comment, i dont think it was a dig at anyone. It was just his opinion and he extended this tour as long as he physically could. I mean he hasnt looked great at award shows so just inagine how he would look on a tour that wasnt spaced out. He might still do shows for the grand ole opry or an award show here or there but i figure thats it. Would love to go next year but that will be a hot ticket. I wish him the best in his retirement.
May 18, 2025 @ 6:01 am
Love Johnny Mathis.
Hope you are going to be able to attend this concert.
May 18, 2025 @ 6:37 am
Was there last night. I’ve seen him a couple times before over the years. It was hard seeing him walk, or more accurately, hobble around the stage. At the same time, you could tell he was trying to absorb it all and take it in. Kinda would get you choked up, as it was very apparent a genuine career was coming to an end as the minutes ticked by. The one thing you could sense, he was ready for it to be over, at least that is the way it I perceived it. It’s hard (for someone my age…46) to believe guys like Alan are now filling the shoes of guys like Cash and Waylon on the age spectrum. I hope Alan plays that role, as he is good for it as one of those legends that sticks around and maybe still puts out an album and shows a new generation what class looks like.
May 18, 2025 @ 3:28 pm
Or at least does some writing for other people (and NOT with nine other writers).
May 18, 2025 @ 4:55 pm
Would agree with that. Never understood the idea of writing a song with that many people.
May 18, 2025 @ 8:07 am
Although I’ve had deep appreciation for so many country artists since the late 70’s, Alan has been my unwavering favorite since he appeared on the scene. I saw him on his High Mileage and Good Time tours when he came to the PNW. His last album Where Have You Gone was as good or better than any of his previous ones, so even though he won’t be touring, I’m still hoping for new music. Alan is a living legend and national treasure who has always stood up for real country music, traditional values and God. His modest demeanor and quiet confidence have garnered so much respect and rightly so. I wish him and his family the very best. I love Alan Jackson.. 💙
May 18, 2025 @ 12:54 pm
I hope they will put it out – IN FULL – on video. (not like the Kenny Rogers final tribute, in which The Judds – arguably the most consequential performance that night – was omitted from the video)
May 18, 2025 @ 4:09 pm
He’s one singer that I missed out on, Back on August 2018, Alan Jackson was scheduled to preform with Lee Ann Womack in Gilford New Hampshire, but that show was cancelled due to AJ having an illness. That was the closest I came to seeing him live.
May 19, 2025 @ 5:42 am
My wife and I were at the show Saturday night. Came in from Portland, OR. The atmosphere was electric. Great crowd. Supportive. Emotional. The big screen juxtaposed a lot of pictures and video of Jackson’s younger self alongside him performing. He sounded good. The Strayhorns were perfect. Fantastic evening.
May 19, 2025 @ 8:33 pm
First and foremost, I’m beyond devastated he has to suffer from this disease. I don’t wish that on anyone, but really, why him? The few genuine beacons of light we have in this industry, particularly AJ. Damn. I would be lying if I didn’t say I was selfishly disgusted the show I had front row seats for wasn’t rescheduled. I still had hope (especially since good seats to Strait were too rich for my blood). God Bless him, he’s one of the best. I sure hope they come up with something to cure or alleviate his (aptly named) CMT