Say it ain’t so.
Country music legend Alan Jackson announced that he’s postponing a couple of upcoming shows this weekend in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, due to health issues.
The PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh and the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City posted on their social media that Jackson is dealing with complications from Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
The Mayo Clinic states that Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is an inherited neurological condition that causes damage to the arms and legs, resulting in smaller, weaker muscles.
Symptoms include loss of sensation, muscle contractions, and difficulty walking, and although there is no cure for the disease, it is typically non life-threatening, which is the great news.
Jackson shared on his website:
“I hoped I’d be able to be there; I hate to disappoint my fans. I tried as much as I could to play this show at this time.”
Although he hasn’t scheduled a new date, he assured fans to hold on to their tickets, as they will be honored for a date in 2023.
This isn’t a newfound issue for Jackson, as he shared with NBC’s “Today” show last year that he’s been struggling with the disease for more than a decade, and its started to affect his balance.
He said:
“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease. It’s genetic that I inherited from my daddy … 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.
It’s not going to kill me. It’s not deadly, but it’s related (to) muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.”
As much as it pains me to say it, you better go see Alan soon because you might not get then chance for much longer. I’m sure as long as he can, he’ll be on that stage, but a degenerative nerve condition is no joke.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to ol’ Big Al… hopefully he’s able to get back on track very soon.
