- Alan Jackson hosted his final concert on June 27 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
- The country music icon, who was diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, is retiring from touring.
- The event helped raise awareness and funds for CMT research.
Alan Jackson’s final concert created life-long memories for the thousands of country music fans in attendance, but the event is going to have a lasting impact beyond the stage.
The country music icon took the stage for the final time after being diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a rare neurological disorder. According to the CMT Research Foundation (CMTRF), CMT “is a progressive, degenerative disease involving the peripheral nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal cord to other parts of the body, including the arms, hands, legs and feet.” There is currently no treatment or cure.
More than 50,000 people took in the concert at Nashville’s Nissan Stadium, with thousands more watching livestreams at Belmont University, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and on Broadway. A portion of each ticket sold was donated to CMTRF. But, the foundation says donations came in from outside the venue too. Inspired by the event and Alan’s story, donations and matching contributions have totaled more than $2.25 million.
The foundation’s website reports, “This tour introduced thousands of new people to CMT who had never heard of it before, and the funding it generated is already moving science forward.”
Up next, the concert will be broadcast on NBC (date to be announced) and Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale will be sold as an album (pre-order is available now).
To learn more about the CMT Research Foundation and make a donation, visit cmtrf.org.
Katie Bowlby is Digital Director at Country Living, where she covers pop culture news including country music, Yellowstone, and all things HGTV, plus gift guides and product reviews. She has been with Country Living for more than 11 years. Before that, she worked for Southern Living. The Indiana University grad also stitches up the cross-stitch pattern for every issue of the magazine.
