When Alan Jackson appeared on The Today Show in 2021, he revealed he had been living with a degenerative nerve condition called Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease. It was diagnosed over a decade ago but is incurable.
He stated that it had been affecting him for years and getting worse over time. The illness makes him uncomfortable and challenged to balance on stage and in front of the microphone.
The ailment is genetic, which the singer inherited from his Father.
The Mayo Clinic states that Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a neurological condition that can damage nerves in the arms and legs. People with the condition experience weaker muscles, muscle contractions, curled toes, loss of feeling, and difficulty walking.
While the disease is not life-threatening, it can challenge performing on stage and playing guitar. It can be related to muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.
Learn About The Alan Jackson Family
Alan Jackson, full name Alan Eugene Jackson, was born in Newnan, Georgia, to his parents Ruth Musick “Mama Ruth” Jackson (1930–2017) and Joseph Eugene “Daddy Gene” Jackson (1927–2000).
He is the youngest in his family with four older sisters: Cathy Jackson Wright, Diane Jackson Dawson, Connie Jackson Davis, and Carol Jackson Glover.
The Jackson family lived in a small home built around his grandfather’s old toolshed. The family is primarily of English descent.
On December 15, 1979, Alan married Denise Jackson, his high school sweetheart. The couple has three daughters: 33-year-old Mattie Denise Selecman, 30-year-old Alexandra Jane “Ali,” and 26-year-old Dani Grace.
When Alan was 27, he moved with his wife from Newnan to Nashville, Tennessee, hoping to pursue music full-time.
Although Alan and Denise separated for several months in 1998 because of Alan’s career pressure and infidelity, they reconciled and have been together since.
Learn More: Is Alan Jackson Related To Lainey Wilson? Did He Cheated On His Wife, Denise Jackson?
In July 2022, it was announced that the pair expected their first grandchild from their middle daughter, Ali, in December.
