Alan Jackson Shares His CMT Diagnosis and Subtle Nerve Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore
The country star's rare neurological condition, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, affects the nerves—here’s what to watch for
When legendary country singer Alan Jackson, 67, announced that the “finale” show of his farewell tour next year will support research to find a cure for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease, it shined a spotlight on the rare neurological condition that’s affected Jackson for years. But what is CMT, exactly, and who is most at risk? We asked doctors to share the important warning signs you need to know.
What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease?
“Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease refers to a group of genetic (inherited) disorders that affect the peripheral nerves,” says Jeffrey Chester, DO, medical director at The Ohana. “These are the nerves that run from the brain and spinal cord to the limbs. There are many different subtypes of CMT, and they vary in severity.”
Per the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association, the condition affects about one in 2,500 people, and many CMT cases fall into one of four categories: CMT1, CMT2, CMT4 and CMTX. They’re distinguished by factors such as age of onset, symptom severity and how they affect the body. That said, all forms of CMT have an impact on the peripheral nerves.
Woman's World Answers
“Peripheral nerves include sensory nerves that carry information like temperature, pain and touch,” says Dr. Chester. “They also include the motor nerves that tell the muscles to move. In people with CMT, these nerves are damaged, which interferes with the transmission of nerve signals. As a result, patients may experience sensory loss, weakness and other symptoms.”
What causes Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease? “Genetic factors, specifically gene mutations that affect the peripheral nerves,” says Dr. Chester. “The most significant risk is for those who have a parent or another close relative with the disease.”
Alan Jackson’s experience with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
Alan Jackson first publicly shared his CMT diagnosis in September 2021 in an interview with Today. “I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,” Jackson told Today. “It’s genetic that I inherited from my daddy.”
In the interview, Jackson joked about the condition sounding similar to the popular CMT Music Awards ceremony. “It’s called CMT, ironically enough, because CMT was a big part of my career,” said Jackson, smiling.
Though Jackson had been living with the condition for a decade before going public, he told Today that his symptoms had started becoming increasingly visible. “There’s no cure for it, but it’s been affecting me for years. And it’s getting more and more obvious. 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,” said Jackson.
Alan Jackson’s farewell concert to support CMT research
Jackson has continued performing despite the visible symptoms of CMT. But in an interview with People, he shared that his final show as a part of his Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale tour will be held June 27, 2026, at the Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
“It’s been a long road…and it’s taken me places I never imagined,” Jackson told People. “But I can’t think of a better place to put on a big show and give the fans a finale than in Nashville and include so many special friends.”
Jackson’s farewell performance will not only celebrate his music but also raise awareness for the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. One dollar from each ticket sold to the finale show will support research and resources through the CMT Research Foundation.
5 CMT symptoms to watch for
“The symptoms can vary quite a bit depending on the type of CMT that a person has,” says Dr. Chester. Some common symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease include:
- Muscle weakness or shrinking (atrophy)
- Feeling weak in your feet, legs, hands and arms
- Deformity of the foot, such as hammertoe or a high arch
- Difficulty walking or an abnormal gait
- Peripheral neuropathy, or a numbness or tingling in your extremities
“The usual onset [of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease] is before adulthood,” says Rhonda Voskuhl, MD, Director of the UCLA Multiple Sclerosis Program and Neurologist at CleopatraRX. “It worsens very slowly over decades, eventually becoming more obvious.”
However, Dr. Chester notes that not everyone will experience CMT earlier in life. “Some people can develop it midlife or later,” says Dr. Chester. “This may also occur because the progression is so slow. A person may not notice the symptoms until later in life.”
“If [a person] begins to notice gait changes, foot or leg weakness, CMT should be considered, especially if they have a family history of it,” adds Dr. Chester. “Women with CMT may be more at risk for falls and fractures because of bone density changes. Routine foot care, such as seeing a podiatrist, can help identify abnormalities in the foot that may be the result of CMT.”
How Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is treated
Currently, there is no cure for CMT. But some treatments can help manage the condition and its symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. That includes physical and occupational therapy, which strengthen muscles and improve dexterity, as well as orthopedic devices that can make it easier for people with CMT to do everyday tasks like walking or climbing stairs.
The good news? Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease does not typically affect a person’s life expectancy. If you suspect you have symptoms of CMT, visit your doctor, who can review your medical history, do genetic testing, run scans to help confirm a diagnosis and establish a treatment plan.
Conversation
All comments are subject to our Community Guidelines. Woman's World does not endorse the opinions and views shared by our readers in our comment sections. Our comments section is a place where readers can engage in healthy, productive, lively, and respectful discussions. Offensive language, hate speech, personal attacks, and/or defamatory statements are not permitted. Advertising or spam is also prohibited.
