Alan Jackson is a country music singer and songwriter from the United States. He was one of the most successful male country performers of the 1990s and early 21st century. Jackson was born on October 17, 1958, in Newnan, Georgia, in the United States.
Alan Jackson revealed his health issues to TODAY’s Jenna Bush Hager last September. The 62-year-old country musician said he was reluctant to talk about his sickness publicly but chose to do so because his fans may detect certain differences in his performances.
Alan Jackson disclosed that he has been fighting Charcot-Marie-Tooth illness, a congenital degenerative nerve condition that affects the peripheral nervous system that governs sensory input and muscle function in the lower leg and forearm, affecting touch, movement, and balance, for a decade.
The condition has worsened over time. The country musician said he was having problems balancing, even in front of a microphone, and felt self-conscious. To avoid questions, he decided to share them.
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What is CMT?
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS), Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) illness, named after its discoverers, is a collection of disorders that damage peripheral nerves, which carry impulses from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body.
CMT affects one in 2,500 persons and is caused by more than 100 genes. Symptoms vary by gene and severity. According to Mayo Clinic, the disease’s most prevalent symptoms affect sensation and strength in the arms, hands, legs, ankles, and feet.
According to the singer’s interview, his father’s condition has severely limited his live performances, and he can’t disguise the symptoms.
According to Health, CMT is a genetic illness that worsens over time. Spectrum Health neurologist Dr. Paul Twydell stated that it can develop in childhood or adolescence and that those diagnosed later in life are likely to have a lesser type.
As Jackson stated in his interview, the sickness will not kill him. Due to its frequent symptoms and five-year diagnosis time, CMT is often misdiagnosed. Physical and occupational therapy can help diagnosed individuals manage daily tasks.
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Going Forward with It
Alan Jackson headlined a Nashville concert last October despite his condition. He wants to finish CMT instead of retiring.
In his interview, Jackson stated he never wanted to perform a big, clichéd retirement tour like other musicians do, then take a year off and return. He promised them that he would try to conduct as many tours as possible, even though the condition would affect plans.
The country singer’s wife, Denise Jackson, supports him. She calls their lives a fairytale since her husband will have so many songs for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who will know who he was.
Songs are Alan Jackson’s legacy. He always thought music was the most important. The “Don’t Rock the Jukebox” singer released his latest studio album, Where Have You Gone, in May.
It has 21 tracks, 15 of which he wrote. Alan Jackson’s record reached the Billboard 200’s top 10, confirming his continued relevance.
