Alan Jackson is getting ready for his farewell tour, and the country music legend recently shared why he decided to retire.
One big reason is that he wants to spend more time with his family. This news comes with a heartwarming announcement: Jackson just welcomed a new grandchild last week.
Back in February, Jackson mentioned he was expecting another grandchild. The much-anticipated baby, a grandson named Wesley Alan Smith, has now arrived.
“One week ago my life was forever changed,” Jackson’s daughter, Mattie Jackson, wrote on Instagram Thursday.
“Wesley Alan Smith joined our little family on June 20th, the absolute best birthday gift I could have ever imagined,” she continued. “There is no greater honor in life than being chosen by God to be your mom. And no sweeter joy than watching your daddy adore you and protect you already. Even Ryman has reluctantly warmed up to her new little brother.”
“You have all my heart and my prayers, baby boy,” she added. “If you’re anything like both your namesakes (Connor’s grandad and @officialalanjackson), you’ve got quite a life ahead of you.”
Back in February, Jackson shared his excitement about his growing family on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Blessings overflowing in our growing family!” he wrote. “Denise and I are thrilled for our second grandson to arrive in June! We’re so happy for proud parents Mattie and Connor Smith and can’t wait to meet the next addition to our family.”
Earlier this month, Jackson talked about his decision to retire after his upcoming tour. The 65-year-old looked back on his long career and the changes in his life that led him to this point.
“I’ve been touring for over 30 years, played everywhere in the country and parts of the world,” Jackson said in a video shared on X. “I’ve had a wonderful career. Now that I’m getting older and all my daughters are grown, and I have one grandchild with another on the way, I enjoy spending more time at home. I don’t want to be away as much as I had to be in my younger days. I don’t tour as much now as I did 10 years ago, but I think it’s time to start thinking about retiring full-time.”
Alan Jackson’s farewell tour, called “Last Call: One More for the Road,” will start on August 2 and includes 10 dates, ending on May 17, 2025.
In 2021, Jackson shared that he has Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a long-term condition that affects his balance and movement. He talked about this in a video, explaining how it has influenced his decision to retire.
“Most of my fans know I have a health condition that affects my legs and arms and makes it harder for me to move around. It’s getting worse, and it’s making it tough for me to perform on stage like I used to,” he said. “I want to think about retiring before it gets too hard for me to do the job I love.”
With his farewell tour coming up and a new grandson to enjoy, Alan Jackson is ready to start a new chapter in his life, focusing on family and health.