Watch the video at the end of this article.
Introduction
Country music legend Alan Jackson recently delivered a deeply emotional message to his wife, Denise, during a public appearance as he confronts ongoing health struggles. Having revealed in 2021 that he is living with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a progressive hereditary neurological condition that impairs his nerves and muscle control, Alan has found certain aspects of performing increasingly difficult—particularly his mobility and balance onstage. People.com+2People.com+2 Despite the physical challenges, Jackson’s spirit remains resilient, and his love for his wife has become more visible than ever. During the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards, where he was honored with the first ever Alan Jackson Lifetime Achievement Award, he paused to pay tribute not only to his fans and God but most poignantly to Denise, his high school sweetheart. People.com+1 He thanked her for being his “best friend since I was seventeen years old,” recalling how she has stood by him through “the good and the bad, the happy and the sad,” how she influenced him, gave him three daughters, and helped keep his feet on the ground. People.com
His voice cracked at times, and tears filled his eyes, revealing both vulnerability and gratitude. In that moment, the audience saw a man who, despite being a celebrated performer, fears losing some of what he loves most—his ability to perform as he once did, his strength, and perhaps even moments he once took for granted. Yet he made clear that he would not be where he is without Denise. Her support, love, constancy, and encouragement have been his anchor during periods of uncertainty. Although CMT is degenerative and has no cure, Alan’s acknowledgment of his limitations—his discomfort onstage, his difficulty balancing—and his willingness to speak openly about them, show a man confronting his own mortality with honesty, love, and faith. People.com+1 The tearful tribute was not only a message to his wife, but also a reminder to fans that true strength is often found in love, humility, and the courage to admit how much we need one another.