Popular Country Star Shares Emotional Health Update Amid Ongoing ALS Battle
John Driskell Hopkins of the Zac Brown Band is sharing a health update amid his battle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis).
During a May 12 interview with Us Weekly, Hopkins, who received his ALS diagnosis in 2021, noted that he is still able to speak, sing, walk, and play instruments.
"Just the fact that I'm speaking to you and walking around and able to still sing and play is kind of unheard of in the averages of this disease. So we're very grateful and doing everything we can to stay on top of it," said Hopkins to the publication.
According to Hopkins, his bandmates have been a constant source of support, even if he doesn't always want their assistance.
'Often I lovingly slap their hands away and say, 'I'll ask when I need it,' but they're all family and they totally get it," said the 54-year-old during the Us Weekly interview.
Hopkins, who has continued to tour with the Zac Brown Band, shared that he believes singing has helped him navigate the neurodegenerative disease.
"I think singing actually helps me, just the act of doing," said Hopkins. "Sometimes, I will be having a bad voice day on the talking side, and I will have a gig and have to sing, and everything goes great. It's really odd how the mind works like that, but I feel like being able to continue is helping me continue.'
Hopkins shared that songwriting helped him break the news of his ALS diagnosis to his daughters, whom he shares with his wife, Jennifer Hopkins.
"The only thing I could think of was, 'What do I say to my girls that will wrap everything up in one phrase? What if I'm not able to communicate?'" said Hopkins to the publication.
He said he was able to convey what he needed to in his new song "I Love You Forever."
"I Love You Forever' was the only thing that made sense. I've turned the song into a bit of a fatherly advice piece," said Hopkins to Us Weekly.
Hopkins then shared that his three children have been incredibly helpful amid his ALS journey. According to the singer, they are "ready to help [him]" anytime they think he may be "struggling with a step or a treacherous part of an outdoor activity." He clarified that his ALS diagnosis hasn't caused too much of a disruption in their lives.
"We remain busy with their schedules and we don't always have time to think about my instability, but I'm still able to drive them to activities and their lives, fortunately, haven't changed much as a result of this," said Hopkins while speaking to the publication.
Hopkins opened up about his 2021 ALS diagnosis during a November 2024 interview with CBS Mornings. Hopkins said he was diagnosed with ALS two years after he first noticed that his "right hand was slowing down in 2019." He also said that he has been "very blessed to have a slow progression" with the disease.
"But it still is a progression. And I'm not jumping on stage anymore. And I'm slowing down a lot," continued Hopkins.
Hopkins then said he has been experiencing some difficulty "speaking, walking, and playing as quickly as [he] used." He also shared some advice to anyone who is going through something similar with their health.
"Every day counts. And we're not promised tomorrow. And when I was diagnosed, I thought to myself, 'I guess I'm next.' I'm the next one in my group of friends and my family to go. And that wasn't true. There's always hope," said Hopkins.
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