Alan Jackson Reveals He Suffers from Neurological Disease CMT

It wasn’t such a big concern that it consumed all of our country music thoughts. But over the last few years, worries about if something was seriously wrong with Alan Jackson has been in the back of our minds for a host of reasons.
There were a few suddenly postponed shows in 2018, including one at the Wolf Trap in Virginia on August 16th after the band, crew, and everyone else had arrived at the venue. Jackson later cancelled the rest of his 2018 tour due to an undisclosed illness. There were the shows where he spent some, most, or all of his time on a stool, which seemed uncharacteristic for Alan Jackson, and a (now) 62-year-old performer, and was stumbling a bit around stage. And then there was the delay in the release on his new 2021 record Where Have You Gone.
But most certainly, Alan Jackson has earned the right to slow down, and not be second guessed over his now Hall of Fame career. Still, there was a lingering worry something wasn’t exactly right with him. On Tuesday morning (9-28), we learned what that something was.
In an interview with Jenna Bush Hager on the TODAY Show from the Country Music Hall of Fame, Alan Jackson revealed that he is suffering from a degenerative nerve condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, called (somewhat ironically) CMT. He was diagnosed with the condition ten years ago. It primarily affects the peripheral nervous system causing balance issues by compromising smaller muscles in the body’s extremities. The good news is that the disease is not life threatening, nor does it affect longevity.
“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,” Jackson said in the 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. And I know I’m stumbling around on stage. And now I’m having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone, and so I just feel very uncomfortable. It’s not going to kill me. It’s not deadly. But it’s related (to) muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.”
Alan Jackson continues, “You get so self-conscious up there, stumbling around. I think it will be good for me now to get it out in the open, so if anybody’s curious of why I don’t walk right, that’s why.”
But don’t worry, this doesn’t mean that Alan Jackson is retiring any time soon. He just felt the need to be honest about it with his fans so they don’t think he’s stumbling around the stage drunk, or have higher expectations than those he can deliver with the disease.
“I never wanted to do the big retirement tour, like people do, then take a year off and then come back,” Jackson said. “I think that’s kinda cheesy. And I’m not saying I won’t be able to tour. I’ll try to do as much as I can. I feel a little more freedom now, because I’m not trying to worry about getting on the radio and fitting into their limitations. I’ve always believed that the music is the most important thing. The songs. And I guess that’s what I’d like to (leave) if I had a legacy.”
Though it’s sad to hear of Alan’s condition, it’s assuring to know it’s not life-threatening, and that the rumors of him either not handling his drinking, or something worse going on were just that—rumors. Hopefully he has many more years of entertaining from the stage left.
Along with releasing his latest album Where Have You Gone in May, Alan Jackson just released a video for the title track recorded at the Ryman Auditorium (see below).
September 28, 2021 @ 10:48 am
Sad news to here but grateful he was upfront and honest about it. That kind of classy guy.
The music video is wonderful too! Thank goodness there are some younger artists like Charley Crockett, Jesse Daniel, Colter Wall, etc who embrace the past and grow from it.
April 5, 2022 @ 1:09 pm
I’m so sorry about your CMT Alan Jackson please take care of yourself Alan Jackson don’t push yourself out for me and your Other Fans and your family.
June 13, 2022 @ 11:48 pm
I will pray for you Allan Jackson Jesus loves you v
September 28, 2021 @ 11:21 am
He was sitting for a few songs at the benefit concert but i didn’t think too much of it but at least i know why now.
September 28, 2021 @ 11:22 am
Take your time Alan, even if you need to quit touring, and just stick to recording, or if you need to retire, then do so, you have Given us fans decades of music, and we appreciate all that you have done for us. Your health is the most important thing, take care of that first.
September 28, 2021 @ 1:19 pm
Alan Jackson is the best ..watched him for many years .. as we age we all have setbacks ..stay strong Alan and family we love you
September 28, 2021 @ 11:32 am
He could sit on a barstool/chair like Don Williams did. Kinda added to his laid-back persona. I really hate to hear this. All the best, brother.
September 28, 2021 @ 1:07 pm
♥️♥️♥️????????????
Living legend. We’re all pullin for this guy!
September 28, 2021 @ 2:01 pm
This is such sad news. Sending up prayers for and all the love to Alan and his family. Hang in there, Alan! Your fans love you and we are pulling for you!
September 28, 2021 @ 2:51 pm
This is a hard one to take in.
I hope that he doesn’t lose his faculties any time soon.
He’s a great artist and contributor to our music.
September 28, 2021 @ 3:18 pm
Alan you have provided such wonderful music. Its time for you to focus on doctors INSTRUCTIONS, diet and exercise. If I may suggest: there isnt anything that will happen to you, today, that God and you cannot handle.
Keep a strong positive faith. Jesus loves you.
September 29, 2021 @ 2:37 am
I also suffer with the inherited CMT from my Dad. It began in my feet then progressed to my hands. Good luck with that. I can’t pick; but never could!
September 29, 2021 @ 4:43 am
Alan keep up with your music but don’t try to overdo it. We love you and are praying for you!! We are all routing for you!!! God Bless
September 29, 2021 @ 6:14 am
He is still young at 62. This is saf. Hope for the best.
September 29, 2021 @ 6:59 am
It is quite a devastating thing to think of how many performers have been diagnosed with neurological diseases of some kind or another over the last ten years. Glen Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2011, and passed away six years later. Neil Diamond and Tony Bennett have both been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Linda Ronstadt’s condition, once thought to be Parkinson’s, was re-diagnosed two years ago as a more insidious form called Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. And now it is Alan Jackson with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
I hope he is able to keep doing what he has been doing for three decades for as long as he can, because there may very well come a time when, for the sake of his own health, he may have to stop touring altogether. I send the man my best.
September 29, 2021 @ 5:38 pm
Tony Bennett? The guy is 95 and has performed and recorded into his tenth decade. I can’t find anything devastating about Tony.
BTW, I ran into him twice in New York. In the ’80s (before email and the Internet) I went into Colony Records–an old record store in the Brill Building just north of Times Square that was part serious store in back and part tourist trap up front. Tony Bennett walked in by himself and went to the back. He was buying a rare a piece of Fred Astaire sheet music. Somebody pointed him out. The store also sold used LP’s, so I asked if they had an old Tony Bennet LP. They charged me something like $30, but I bought it and went over and talked to Tony and he signed the cover.
About a year later, I was riding my bike up Avenue of the Americas. I stopped at a crosswak at 58th Street a block below Central Park and a guy steps right in front of me and it’s Tony Bennett. I think he lived on Central Park South at the time
September 29, 2021 @ 6:42 pm
I should make a correction about Tony Bennett’s ailment; it is in fact Alzheimer’s, just like Glen Campbell:
https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/celebrities/info-2021/tony-bennett-alzheimers.html
In any case, these neurological diseases are playing havoc with so many of our heroes; and it is unfortunate that Alan Jackson is the latest to be diagnosed with one of them.
September 29, 2021 @ 5:03 pm
“…over the last few years, worries about if something was seriously wrong with Alan Jackson has been in the back of our minds for a host of reasons.”
Lol. You’re so full of shit. You didn’t ‘wonder’ or even think anything was wrong until you read the press release like everyone else.
September 29, 2021 @ 5:18 pm
Well first off, I’m not sure why that is something I would be motivated to lie about.
Secondly, in August of 2018 when Alan Jackson canceled a string of shows, there was actually quite a bit of discussion about his health, with people chiming in about him stumbling around or being “drunk” on stage. Was it some big controversy? I wouldn’t say that at all. But it was something discussed by numerous folks. There was also some discussion surrounding the delay in the release of his latest album. My guess is that was the whole point of Alan Jackson making this announcement.
September 29, 2021 @ 9:24 pm
Will always listen to his music. All the very best Allen. His songs are super meaningful ????????????
September 30, 2021 @ 9:14 am
I saw Alan in 2019 and something seemed very off. He would sing one verse of a song and then slowly walk around stage, wave to people in the pit, occasionally throw out a shirt or a hat and the music video for the song played on a jumbotron behind him. If I had paid for the tickets I would’ve felt ripped off. Now it all makes sense
February 3, 2024 @ 6:48 pm
I have a close friend with this disease it truly is terrible. I don’t think people realise how bad it is. My friend has progressed to not being able to do anything for themselves. She cannot walk stand or use her arms or hands. It is a progressive disease she is now unable to feed herself as she cannot lift her arms and she is losing the ability to use her hands and fingers. I feel really sorry for Alan Jackson because as his father had this he will know what the disease does to the body. Soo sad.