The iconic 64-year-old country music hero Alan Jackson has captured the hearts of millions of people for more than 40 years with his timeless fusion of classic country music and honky-tonk rhythms. It is understandable that he has sold over 80 million records during his successful career given his immense contributions to the genre. However, his accomplishment is actually the result of a tale of perseverance and success in the face of hardship.
To the surprise of his devoted fan following, Alan disclosed last year that he had been diagnosed with a degenerative neurological condition. This information was received at a time when he and his family were still dealing with the untimely death of Mattie Jackson Selecman’s father, Ben Selecman. The family is still in deep grief over this terrible loss.
Despite these significant obstacles, Alan Jackson has used music as a means of self-expression and emotional healing. His albums “Where Have You Gone” (2021) and “Angels & Alcohol” (2015) are permanently marked by these very personal encounters. Alan honors the enduring love and priceless memories of those he has lost via his artistic creations.
As an Assistant District Attorney at the Davidson County District Attorney’s office, Ben Selecman was a rising star in his field. His sense of humor and unwavering dedication to his career are remembered with fondness by his colleagues. Everyone who knew him feels profoundly bereaved and left with a huge hole in their life.
Mattie Jackson, the daughter of Alan Jackson, has found comfort in her religion and her father’s unyielding support throughout this tragic time. They worked together on a strong song called “Racing the Dark,” which was a first for the father-daughter combination. This moving song is particularly meaningful to them both and is proof of the resilience that can arise even in the most painful circumstances.
Additionally, Mattie used her sorrow to fuel an incredible project by co-founding NaSHEville, a company that aims to empower women in Music City. “Lemons on Friday: Trusting God Through My Greatest Heartbreak,” her upcoming book, is a chronicle of her path of recovery and self-discovery. In this moving book, Mattie discusses her life’s extreme challenges, her spirit’s tenacity, and how these things helped her discover a new strength and purpose.
In a moving preface to the book, Alan and his wife, New York Times best-selling novelist Denise Jackson, discuss their own experiences and how they were able to find comfort and healing following the death of a family member. For others traversing the perilous waters of loss, their own journey serves as a beacon of hope.
Alan Jackson is adamant about his love of music and his desire to keep sharing it with the world even as he navigates his own health issues, particularly Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome, a degenerative nerve condition. The superstar of country music faces physical challenges as a result of this illness, but he is not letting it stop him from following his love. Alan’s steadfast dedication is evidence of his fortitude and willpower.
Let us offer Alan Jackson and his family our condolences and best wishes during these difficult times. We are appreciative of his music’s inspirational and joyful effects on our lives as fans. As we look forward to his upcoming performances and hold onto the classic songs that have become our lives’ soundtrack, may he find strength in the love and support of his loyal fan base.
“People Only Know Me as a Freak,” The Wolf Man Struggles to Find a Job Outside the Circus
Jesús Aceves has hypertrichosis, which makes his hair grow abundantly over his face and back. Because of his condition, he’s also known as The Wolf Man. But he’s tired of this alias and wants to live a normal life.
Meet Jesús Aceves, a 55-year-old man born with a condition called hypertrichosis, which means he has abnormal hair growth over his body, especially his face. Although married with kids, Jesús isn’t fully happy with his living conditions. He says he and his family suffer discrimination. In an interview, one of his kids mentioned, “People call me names, and they even tell their kids not to be my friends.”
© Chuy, El hombre lobo / Chuy, The Wolf Man / Facebook
He worked in the circus all his life, traveling through several cities. But now, he’s tired of being seen as a freak. As a consequence of years on the road, he’s been known as The Wolf Man.
Back home and not in the circus anymore, he’s facing another challenge: finding a “normal” job. He needs to support his family since his wife works in temporary jobs.
After several failed job interviews, he agreed to try something he had always avoided: shave his face. He relied on his family barber to transform him, even creating eyebrows and lashes.
The experience was difficult since the face is an extremely sensitive body area, but both he and his wife believed that simply by shaving, he would be able to find a job.
Jesús did several interviews, and it’s confident that now he’ll find somewhere to work besides the circus. If this happens, he must shave his face every 2 days.
Although rare, some conditions aren’t impossible to have. Luckily, people find a way to overcome the difficulties a rare condition brings and strive in life. Hannah Tyre, for example, was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, meaning that her bones break very easily. But her love for makeup made her an internet influencer, reaching millions of followers. We hope that, by reaching the mainstream media, people with genetic diseases won’t suffer more discrimination.
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