Alan Jackson closed his touring career on June 27 at Nissan Stadium with tribute performances, a sold-out crowd, and a series of moving speeches—just weeks after revealing he’s retiring as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease continues to affect his ability to move and
NASHVILLE — When Alan Jackson stepped onstage for what he has called his final concert ever. it came after a 40-minute severe weather delay and a stadium full of country stars trading memories before the first note. At Nissan Stadium on June 27. the country music legend ended his touring career with “Alan Jackson: Last Call — The Finale. ” performing to a sold-out crowd.
Jackson arrived at the moment with a tone that sounded both celebratory and unfinished. “Thank you guys so much. I’m Alan Jackson, it’s good to see you all,” he said as fans cheered. Minutes later. overwhelmed by the message he’d heard in the night’s speeches and songs. he added. “These nice things people said. it’s just completely overwhelming. It just makes me wanna tear up a little bit.”.
Before Jackson’s set. fellow artists played and shared stories about his impact. including Luke Bryan. Eric Church. Luke Combs. Riley Green. Cody Johnson. Miranda Lambert. Carrie Underwood and Lainey Wilson. Their presence framed the night as more than a farewell concert—it was a retrospective of a career that helped define mainstream country for millions.
Jackson’s remarks kept threading through the evening. even as he moved into the kind of songs his fans came to hear. He joked that he wished he had the same vocal prowess as his guest performers and urged the crowd to resist the weight of “last show” sadness. “We’re not going to dwell on all this sad ‘last show’ stuff. ” he said. explaining that earlier the feeling had hit him like a funeral. as if he were “up in heaven watching all the stars sing his songs.”.
The 67-year-old closed out his touring career while performing hits early in the set. cycling through “Livin’ on Love. ” “Summertime Blues. ” “Midnight in Montgomery” and “Who’s Cheatin’ Who” before addressing the crowd again. Sitting on a stool, he said, “If anyone has lived the American dream,” he added, “It’s me.”.
He then turned to the practical joy he wanted fans to take home—no solemn script. just the evening he’d promised. Jackson told the crowd: “I just want to thank everybody. all these fans from all over the world. for listening to my music for all these years. … I’ve played several thousand shows here. and y’all have always been so nice. so respectful.” He added. “Two-step up and down the aisle. do whatever you want to do. sit back and relax. have a good time. have a drink. ” and promised. “We’ll try to play something you like.”.
Part of his speeches traced a personal arc that began long before the stadium lights. Jackson said he moved to Nashville about 40 years ago from Georgia. He described giving himself five years to land a record deal before he would consider going back home. recalling that after “five years” he finally “got a record contract” and the first album was made. He said the first single on the radio “died a terrible death. ” but a label decision to release another song kept his career moving.
That breakthrough was “Here in the Real World,” the 1990 hit he performed next. He called himself “a singer of simple songs. ” explaining his dedication to writing tunes about “life. love and drinking. ” while also reflecting on the ride that followed: “And it’s just been a crazy life. crazy career. And been so blessed, as my momma would say.”.
Jackson’s retirement from touring has been tied to a neurological disorder. The country star has struggled with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease—a hereditary condition that damages peripheral nerves—since 2011. The disease affects movement. balance and sensation and. while it is generally not fatal. it is slowly progressive. causing muscle weakness and loss of sensation in the extremities. Jackson has said the disorder has affected his ability to move and stay balanced on stage.
He announced his retirement in May 2025 during the final stop of his “Last Call: One More for the Road” tour at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum. saying. “I just felt like I had to end it all where it all started. and that’s in Nashville. Tennessee. ” and adding. “I gotta do my last one there.” He also described how the journey began: “It’s been a long. sweet ride. It started 40 years ago this September. My wife and I drove to Nashville with an old U-Haul trailer and chased this dream,” he said.
The farewell concert also included an explicit link to the disease that has shaped his decision. For each ticket sold. $1 is being donated to the CMT Research Foundation. an organization that funds research to find a cure for Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. The event will also air as a prime-time TV special and stream on Peacock later this year.
For one final night, Jackson turned the same songs that built his fame into a message that sounded less like an ending than a handoff—music for the crowd he kept thanking, and a clear signal that, for him, the road from stage to stage has reached its limit.
Alan Jackson Last Call The Finale Nissan Stadium touring retirement Charcot-Marie-Tooth CMT Research Foundation Peacock country music
Aww I didn’t even know he was retiring from that disease stuff.
So he had a weather delay for his “final” show? Nashville always does that lol. Glad it turned out sold out though, but I thought it said “final” like forever? Guess we’ll see.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth is the one where you lose your balance right? That’s scary. I feel like the speeches are what got everyone, because the headline made it sound like he was just gonna sing and leave. Also why are stadium shows always during the worst weather like it’s cursed.
Not gonna lie, I thought Alan was quitting because like his voice changed or something, then I read it’s the disease affecting movement. Kinda crazy how he still went onstage after all that. Luke Bryan and Eric Church there too, so I guess it was basically a big country reunion. Hope he rests after the “last call” thing because I’m sure the stress doesn’t help.