Alan Jackson’s final concert was special for many reasons. Not only did the country music icon bid farewell to an incredible career, he also used the opportunity to raise over $2 million for a cause close to his heart: the CMT Research Foundation.
In 2019, Jackson revealed that he had been living with the neurological condition Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT).
“It’s genetic that I inherited from my daddy… There’s no cure for it, but it’s been affecting me for years,” Jackson shared during a deeply personal interview with the TODAY show. “And it’s getting more and more obvious. And 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.”
Since revealing his diagnosis, the Georgia native has made a point to support CMT research and has donated proceeds of his ticket sales to the CMT Research Foundation.
With his final show, Jackson helped raise more than $2.25 million for the CMT Research Foundation. A portion of ticket sales from the historic concert was donated to CMTRF, inspiring an outpouring of additional support through fan donations and matching contributions.
Laura MacNeill, CEO of the CMT Research Foundation, reflected on the significance of the funding and awareness generated through Jackson’s final shows, noting the lasting impact it could have on the CMT community.
“For the three million people living with CMT, this isn’t just a dollar number. It’s momentum. Currently, there are no approved treatments or cures for CMT. Alan Jackson’s Last Call tour introduced thousands of people to CMT who had never heard of it before, and the funding it generated is already moving science forward,” MacNeill shared with Country Now in a statement.
CMTRF will use the funds to support research efforts focused on advancing potential treatments for CMT, a condition that currently has no approved therapies. Fans can find details on the research being supported here.
Jackson’s final concert featured the country legend delivering a career-spanning setlist filled with fan-favorite hits, including many of the 35 chart-topping songs that defined his decades-long legacy in country music.
As announced earlier this week, Jackson’s final performance will be preserved as a live album, Last Call: One More for the Road – The Finale (Live from Nashville), set to arrive later this year. The historic show was also filmed for an upcoming NBC special, which is slated to air in December.
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