Country music icon Alan Jackson has officially wrapped up his touring days after more than three decades of bringing his music to fans across the country.
The 66-year-old legend played his final tour stop in Milwaukee on Saturday night, marking the end of his Last Call: One More for the Road Tour. Jackson had announced last year that he was stepping away from the stage due to serious health challenges.
“Y’all might’ve heard I’m slowing things down,” he told the crowd in an emotional moment caught on video. “This is the last road show of my career. Y’all are gonna make me tear up out here.”
While this was his final stop on tour, Jackson shared that he’s planning one last big send-off show in Nashville next summer. “I just felt like I had to finish where it all started — in Nashville, Tennessee,” he said.
The “Chattahoochee” singer reflected on his journey, which began 40 years ago when he and his wife packed up a U-Haul and drove to Music City to chase his dream.
“It’s been a long, sweet ride,” Jackson said. “I’ve lived the American dream — no doubt about it. I’m so blessed.”
Jackson first revealed in 2021 that he had been living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a genetic neurological disorder that affects muscle strength and balance. Though he was diagnosed back in 2011, he only recently opened up about how it’s impacted his performances.
“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,” he shared in an interview with the Today show. “It’s something I inherited from my dad. There’s no cure, and it’s been getting more noticeable.”
The condition has made it harder for Jackson to keep his balance on stage. “I know I’m stumbling around a bit up there. It makes me uncomfortable, especially in front of a crowd,” he said. “In some ways, it’s a relief to talk about it. If people are wondering why I’m not moving around the same, now they’ll understand.”
Despite stepping away from touring, Jackson isn’t done making music. In 2023, he told his daughter Mattie Jackson on her podcast In Joy Life that he’s still writing songs and thinking about new material.
“I’m always scribbling down ideas and thinking about melodies,” he said. “I think there’s more music to come.”
For Jackson, the songwriting process remains the most meaningful part of his career. “Being creative is more fulfilling than anything,” he said. “Touring’s great, but you’re basically doing the same thing night after night. Writing — that’s where the magic happens.”
