62-year-old country gospel singer-songwriter Alan Jackson is one of the best-selling music artists of all-time. Alan has sold over 75 million records worldwide, with 44 million sold in the United States alone.
Jackson is also the recipient of two Grammy Awards, 16 CMA Awards, and 17 ACM Awards. A member of the Grand Ole Opry, he was also inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame back in 2001.
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Alan was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017 by Loretta Lynn, plus the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2018. He is country music royalty so to speak.
In an interview with TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager, Jackson revealed he’s been diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which is a degenerative nerve condition that affects his ability to walk.
Jackson said,
“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease. 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.”
Charcot-Marie-Tooth affects the peripheral nervous system, causing balance problems by compromising smaller, weaker muscles in the body’s extremities.
“It’s not going to kill me. It’s not deadly. But it’s related (to) muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.”
Jackson continued,
That’s great news. Alan has been married for the better part of forty years with three grown up kids.
He has no plans of stepping away from the stage. Alan’s been doing his thing for more than three decades, lighting up the music world with his “neotraditional country” style of music.
Alan had this to say,
“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 I’m not saying I won’t be able to tour. I’ll try to do as much as I can.”
He’s a real pro!
Jackson goes on to say that he’s not a big spotlight guy as he prefers writing songs. But this is a man who, Jenna says, has single-handedly kept traditional country music going.
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Denise Jackson, Alan’s wife, is his high school sweetheart and is keeping him going.
Alan says that the legacy he wants to leave behind is music. For a man who has spent his life giving us his best, there will be no doubts about his legacy. His wife knows it too.
“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.”
Jackson said.
There is no cure for Alan’s condition but supportive therapy can help. He’s got a great mindset and a positive attitude, which are really good ways of dealing with any condition.
Other symptoms of CMT include weakness in your legs, ankles and feet. A loss of muscle bulk in your legs and feet, high foot arches and frequent tripping or falling may also happen.
It’s not over for Alan. Not even close. He’s made a huge impact on country music and he shares some of his stories in the interview below.
Learn more about Alan’s diagnosis in his interview below!
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