Country icon Alan Jackson details 15-year health battle before finale
Country icon Alan Jackson is preparing for his official retirement at Saturday's Nissan Stadium finale, opening up about a 15-year battle with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Diagnosed in 2011 but public since 2021, the inherited nerve condition has increasingly affected his balance onstage—making "Last Call: One More for the Road" a milestone fans and NBC will broadcast nationwide. Jackson, 67, has spent years performing through worsening symptoms while building one of country music's most decorated careers.
Key Takeaways
- Jackson's finale, "Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale," takes place Saturday at Nashville's Nissan Stadium with a star-studded guest lineup.
- He was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in 2011 but did not share it publicly until a 2021 "Today Show" appearance.
- The neurological condition causes nerve damage, muscle weakness, and balance problems that Jackson says will eventually disable him.
- NBC will film the show as "Alan Jackson: The Last Show" for a primetime special, with streaming on Peacock the next day.
What health condition is Alan Jackson living with?
Jackson has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which the Mayo Clinic defines as a group of inherited conditions that cause nerve damage. The disease can lead to smaller, weaker muscles, trouble walking, and loss of feeling in the legs and feet.
Jackson inherited the condition from his father, who died in 2000 of a ruptured aorta. On the "Today Show" in 2021, he said the disease had been affecting him for years and was becoming "more and more obvious."
"I know I'm stumbling around on stage," he told viewers. "And now I'm having a little trouble balancing, even in front of the microphone." He added that performing while managing the illness left him uncomfortable and that "it's going to disable me eventually."
When is Alan Jackson's final concert?
Jackson's retirement performance, "Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale," is set for Saturday night at Nissan Stadium in Nashville—the city that launched his career. He and NBC announced the official farewell show earlier in June 2026.
Joining him onstage will be Luke Bryan, Eric Church, Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Lainey Wilson, Little Big Town, Thomas Rhett, Jake Owen, Jon Pardi, and Lee Ann Womack, according to NBC.
The concert will be filmed for an NBC primetime special titled "Alan Jackson: The Last Show," with the performance available to stream on Peacock the following day.
Why did Jackson keep his diagnosis private for a decade?
Although doctors diagnosed Jackson with Charcot-Marie-Tooth in 2011, he kept the news hidden for 10 years before going public in 2021. By then, fans had already noticed his onstage balance struggles.
Despite the difficulty, Jackson continued touring for years. He acknowledged in 2021 that he knew he would not be able to tour at the same pace he once did, setting the stage for this weekend's farewell.
For more on stars navigating health challenges in the spotlight, see our Celebrity Breaking News coverage.
What legacy does Alan Jackson leave behind?
The Georgia native has sold more than 75 million records worldwide, earning 35 Number 1 hits and 50 Top 10 singles. He is a two-time Grammy winner with 16 CMA Awards and 17 ACM Awards, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017.
His final Nashville show caps a career defined by chart dominance—and a quiet, grueling fight with a progressive nerve disease he now shares openly with fans.