<\/p>\n
Alan Jackson wrapped up his career as a live performer in June at Nashville\u2019s Nissan Stadium. <\/p>\n
If folks are wondering why the 67 year old star called it a career, at least for live performances, there\u2019s good reason. A big part of the decision was simply his desire to spend more time with family.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been touring for over 30 years, you know, played everywhere in the country and parts of the world,\u201d Jackson said when he announced his farewell tour. \u201cHave had a wonderful career, and getting into my twilight years, and all my daughters are grown, and I got one grandchild and one on the way. Enjoy spending more time at home, and don\u2019t want to be away like I had to be in my younger days, and I don\u2019t tour as much now as I did 10 years ago. But I think it\u2019s getting time to start thinking about hanging it up full-time.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s not the only reason for ramping the career down, though. The singer has been dealing with a rare genetic condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. It is a chronic neuropathy condition that affects a person\u2019s balance and ability to walk, and it apparently runs in his family. He cited that, too, while explaining why he was retiring this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of my fans know I have a degenerative health condition that affects my legs and arms and my mobility that I got from my daddy and it\u2019s getting worse,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, it makes me more uncomfortable on stage, and I just have a hard time, and I just want to think about maybe calling it quits before I\u2019m unable to do the job like I want to.\u201d<\/p>\n
While it is sad that Jackson has stepped away, in the end, he did pretty, darned well for himself in his career.<\/p>\n
It has been a long run for Jackson, who began his career in 1987. It has been a lucrative run, too.<\/p>\n
Just how lucrative?<\/p>\n