:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/John-Driskell-Hopkins-073026-7b57043e3dec4b2ca1e28d3ca029e30c.jpg)
NEED TO KNOW
- John Driskell Hopkins was diagnosed with ALS in December 2021 and revealed the news publicly six months later
- The Zac Brown Band member remains active with touring and recording despite the degenerative disease affecting his voice and movement
- Hopkins hopes his ALS progression stays slow, but worries stress from his busy schedule could worsen his condition
John Driskell Hopkins admits he’s been “chasing the clock” ever since he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
In a new video interview with Fox News, the Zac Brown Band founding member, 55, spoke about remaining active despite living with the degenerative disease.
“I’m almost busier now than I was before because I’m trying to get so much done. I’m tryin’ to fit it all in,” he said. “I’m taking more family vacations. I’m in the studio more than I should be. I’m still on tour with Zac Brown Band right now. You know, my fingers work. My voice works. It’s been compromised, but most of the set, no one would notice. And I’m playing different things on stage, but they still make sense.”
Hopkins admitted that although he’s still doing what he loves, he hopes that’s not making his condition worse.
“You know, I’m chasing the clock more than I ever have been,” he continued. “And what I worry about is that that is causing me stress, which might be exacerbating my condition. So it’s a bit of a catch-22, you know, I’ve created.”
“I hope that my progression continues to be slow and that I can sing for a long time, but who knows?” he added.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999x0:1001x2):format(webp)/John-Driskell-Hopkins-073026-1-2540b95284f84b2183fbdb269c6493da.jpg)
Hopkins was diagnosed with ALS in December 2021, and first revealed the news in a video message six months later. In May 2025, the three–time Grammy winner told PEOPLE that continuing to live an incredible life was a no-brainer.
“For me, keeping going is really important,” he said at the time. “I feel like if I did sit in a recliner and played the whole ‘woe is me’ card, I would be a lot worse off.”
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rare degenerative disease that causes progressive paralysis of the muscles. Patients first experience twitching or weakness in a limb, often followed by slurred speech. According to the Mayo Clinic, because the disease affects the nerve cells in the brain and spine that control muscle movement, patients slowly lose their ability to speak, eat, walk, and breathe independently.
There’s no cure for ALS, and people usually live three to five years after diagnosis, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association. However, some patients can live decades.
In addition to Hopkins, other notable stars who have been diagnosed with ALS include Chris Johnson, Aaron Lazar, Eric Stevens, Joe Bonsall, Roberta Flack, Kenneth Mitchell and Stephen Hawking.