Alan Jackson has lived with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease for the last decade and shared his struggles in an interview with Jenna Bush Hager. Jackson became open during their conversation as his performance gradually declined due to this hereditary condition.
He says he plans on forgoing a typical retirement tour and instead wishes to keep performing as long as possible.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease
Alan Jackson is a country music legend and a tireless performer, but he is also living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), which affects balance and mobility. While talking with Jenna Bush Hager from Today show Jenna Bush Hager about it, the 62-year-old singer disclosed that he’d been living with CMT since inheriting it from his late father. However, gradually worsens since Alan insists it won’t stop his performances.
CMT is a group of genetic conditions that damage nerves that link the brain and spinal cord with distant body parts, including arms and legs. Nerves transmit signals between these parts, such as muscles in the legs and feet receiving alerts from the brain or spinal cord; relay sensations like pain or touch to them from those parts as a result of gene mutations disrupting myelin-based insulation covering long thin extensions called axons which allow messages to travel quickly across axons, messages don’t travel as quickly, leading to weakening muscles in feet legs hands over time.
CMT symptoms vary considerably. While symptoms usually emerge during childhood or adolescence, they can also appear later. They include weakness in legs and feet, muscle atrophy in your lower body and toe tips, gait abnormalities that cause trips and falls, and numbness or tingling in feet, ankles, or legs.
If you exhibit symptoms of CMT, speak to your physician as soon as possible. They’ll ask about both your medical history and family medical history before conducting a physical exam and ordering blood or imaging tests to assess the type and severity of your condition.
Treatment options depend on the type of CMT you have; physical therapists can teach exercises designed to strengthen leg and foot muscles through physical therapy; you may require a brace to support foot, ankle, or shin muscles for easier walking; alternatively, you might benefit from special shoes designed specifically for CMT patients or surgery to loosen tight tendons or joints.
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C (HCV) is an infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus and can range from mild and lasting only weeks to chronic and lifelong. A small percentage of people infected may never show symptoms, and their infection clears itself up by itself; for most, however, an acute case will become chronic and cause damage to liver organs over time.
Hepatitis C infects an estimated 12 million people globally, yet most remain unaware. This infection causes serious liver issues, including cirrhosis and failure, necessitating treatment or leading to scarring that requires liver transplantation if left untreated. Hepatitis C is also one of the significant contributors to morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV.
Hepatitis C infections can often be transmitted through injection of illegal drugs (especially when unsterilized equipment is involved). Still, they can also be acquired from mother to baby or certain sexual practices that involve blood-to-blood contact (group sex, intercourse during menstruation, etc). Furthermore, they can spread through sharing razors/brushes/toothbrushes, physical contact (such as shaking hands), and sharing razor blades or toothbrushes among family or friends.
Treating this infection is straightforward, with medications designed to stop viral replication inside of the body. Up until recently, most people with chronic hepatitis C were prescribed two primary medicines known as pegylated interferon and ribavirin; however, now there are new all-tablet treatments that allow more than 90% of chronic cases to be cured within six to nine months of starting therapy. These pills are easy to take and tolerated well with shorter treatment courses than earlier medicines for chronic cases. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme subsidizes these treatments. If you are concerned about your hepatitis C risk, seek medical advice immediately from a trusted doctor. GPs, sexual health clinics, or Genitourinary Medicine Services (GUM) services can test you for Hepatitis C and advise about safe sexual practices that will protect against its transmission by using latex condoms during sexual encounters, using only sterile injection equipment when injecting drugs, taking precautions when getting tattooed and body piercing as well as using latex condoms during sex and taking care with tattoos and body piercings.
Kidney Disease
Alan Jackson has long been one of the greatest voices in country music, keeping its traditions alive with hits like I’d Love You All Over Again and Don’t Rock the Jukebox. But recently, he has also revealed his health struggles to Jenna Bush Hager on the Today show.
In his 2021 interview, country star Keith Urban revealed a neurological condition he’s been living with for some time: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is an inherited genetic condition that results in nerve damage to arms and legs and loss of feeling in feet and hands, ultimately reducing muscle strength while diminishing feelings in feet and hands. While not fatal, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease makes walking and performing difficult for those with it.
Jackson revealed in the video that he has been living with Parkinson’s for over ten years and has worsened. Doctors told him exercise would help, so he has regularly attended the gym as part of his treatment. Denise has also been very supportive during this challenging period for Jackson.
Even with his ongoing health issues, legendary musician Steve Earle remains on tour. He recently performed a tribute to Loretta Lynn at CMT’s Coal Miner’s Daughter: A Celebration of Life & Music. Additionally, Earle has been working hard composing new material; details regarding his next album should become available shortly.
With over 43 million albums sold in the U.S. alone, it’s understandable why fans may be concerned for his health. He’s been very active on social media and posted plenty of updates for fans to keep them informed – we hope he stays strong and healthy so his music lives on for decades! We look forward to seeing what else comes our way from him soon – For more celebrity health blogs, follow this link!
Cancer
Alan Jackson is one of country music’s most beloved stars. His 16 studio albums have reached number one on the Billboard charts, and his songs have won him hundreds of music awards throughout his illustrious career. Unfortunately, some fans are worried about Alan’s health condition that has recently arisen.
Alan, 62 years old and interviewed on the Today Show by Jenna Bush Hager, recently disclosed he suffers from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease – a hereditary neurological condition which causes smaller and weaker muscles in his legs and feet, difficulty walking, balance issues and difficulty performing everyday activities such as dance. Although the state can considerably decrease life expectancy, Alan remains dedicated to serving as long as possible.
Though the two-time Grammy Award-winner has had to postpone one concert due to health reasons, he continues to perform live and has made it clear he does not intend on retiring anytime soon. Furthermore, he is working on his new album, which should be out later this year.
Despite his challenges, the “Livin’ on Love” singer is happy and enjoys spending time with his family. He often shares photos on social media of himself, his wife Denise, and their daughters; these posts often receive lots of heart emojis and well wishes from fans.
The couple have been together for nearly 42 years and remain strong. They share three daughters: Mattie Denise Selecman, Alexandra “Ali” Jane, and Dani Grace, as well as four grandchildren. Denise wrote an inspiring memoir called It’s All About Him, which details their journey; recently, she also provided an inspirational talk at Nashville, Tennessee’s 2018 Women of Influence Summit.
Denise Jackson has an array of writing and acting pursuits, in addition to supporting her husband’s music career while founding The Denise Jackson Foundation as a non-profit charity organization. Through educational campaigns focused on underage drinking and drug use risks for adolescents and healthy lifestyle promotion programs run through The Foundation – supported by numerous charitable individuals and organizations, including UNICEF and the American Cancer Society.
