“I have this neuropathy and neurological disease,” Jackson said. “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. 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.”
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CMT doesn’t shorten life expectancy, but may eventually immobilize its patients. “It’s not going to kill me. It’s not deadly,” Jackson said. “But it’s related (to) muscular dystrophy and Parkinson’s disease.”
When discussing his future plans, Jackson made it clear that he wouldn’t typically complain or bring up his health issues, but did so due to it affecting his performance on stage.
“I don’t know how much I’ll continue to tour. I always thought I never wanted to do the big retirement tour, like people do, then take a year off and come back,” Jackson said. “I’ve always admired some of my heroes…Merle Haggard, George, and Willie Nelson still playing out there at nearly 90-years-old. Charley Pride and Loretta…they just never retire. They play as much as they can and want to. I always thought I’d like to do that, and I would like to do that if my health will let me do that.”