Introduction:
In 2019, fans of legendary country band Alabama were left both heartbroken and concerned when the group began canceling shows on what was meant to be a historic 50th anniversary tour. What started as the cancellation of a single performance quickly spiraled into three, and eventually, the entire remainder of the tour was scrapped. The highly anticipated November stop in Nashville was even postponed to 2020. Yet, amid mounting speculation, no clear explanation was ever given—until now.
During the Country Cares Weekend at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Taste of Country’s Billy Dukes sat down with Randy Owen, the band’s iconic frontman, to finally uncover the truth. While a brief initial statement had cited health issues, Owen had remained personally silent—until this exclusive conversation.
As it turns out, the pressures of performing were simply becoming too much. “It’s been stressful,” Owen admitted. “Doing a show—it’s strenuous on me.” After five decades of delivering high-energy performances across the country, the 70-year-old singer found himself physically overwhelmed. “It’s hard out here for a country boy,” he joked, “especially a 70-year-old country boy and all of his friends.”
Behind the scenes, manager Tony Conway had mentioned that vertigo and migraines were taking a toll on Owen. But fans had no idea how deeply these conditions were affecting his ability to perform. According to Owen, the back-to-back tour dates under grueling conditions had “done their damage,” leaving him no choice but to step away temporarily.
Still, the band’s passion for the road hasn’t faded. During a particularly scorching performance in June 2019 at Country Jam, Alabama pushed through the desert heat to give fans everything they had. Their dedication was clear—and so was their exhaustion.
But here’s the good news: Alabama isn’t done yet.
The rescheduled Nashville dates are set for July 17th and 18th, with The Charlie Daniels Band joining as the opening act. In total, eight additional summer dates and six fall shows are already in the works. For a band that’s been delivering “Mountain Music” for more than half a century, the love of performing remains a driving force.
Touring, it seems, still “feels so right” for Alabama.
So while the future may bring fewer dates and more downtime between shows, Randy Owen and Alabama are far from retired. The band remains committed to their music, their fans, and their incredible legacy.
As Billy Dukes playfully concluded, “I could’ve started singing ‘Mountain Music’—but nobody wants that.”
One thing’s for sure: fans everywhere are hoping that 2020 (and beyond) brings more chances to see America’s most beloved country band live on stage once again.