John Drisell Hopkins says “to continue is really important” when he fights against ALS (exclusive)

John Driskell Hopkins lives an incredible life with an incurable disease.

“I think my music is Allows me To play music, if it is meaningful, “explains Hopkins, 54, in an interview with People.

In fact, the three times the Grammy winner and Zac Brown Band Founding member spent the summer of 2024 traveling the country with its musical comrades and alongside Kenny Chesney on The sun goes down Tour, all while Hopkins continued to fight degenerative disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

“For me it is really important to keep me,” explains Hopkins, which was diagnosed with the neuromuscular disease – also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease – in December 2021. “I feel that if I sat in a recurring and played the whole” Woe is me “card, I would be much worse.”

Still, Hopkins is the first to admit that the disease actually slows him down, both on and off the stage.

“I have to play a few different parts on the guitar now because my original parts were much faster, so I adjust,” says Hopkins. “I don’t jump on stage with (ZBB members) Clay (Cook) and Coy (Bowles) anymore, and I miss it. I really wish I could run out in the driving force and jump, but I’m parked at my microphone, and they come to me and they never let me feel that I’m not involved.” And it’s wonderful. ”

And at the moment his song remains unchanged. And it is this truthful voice that you can now listen to “I Love You”, which is the first song Hopkins’ wrote after his diagnosis. It is inspired by what he wants his wife Jennifer and their daughters to remember when he is gone.

This and Hopkin’s first solo single, “each”, is about “the importance of family in our lives, but also speaks to a universal audience about the importance of belonging and mutual respect,” he says. “Everything we really need in this world is each other.”

It was a need that Hopkins has relied on everything, because he says he has received as much love and support from the fans as he would see in the crowd.

“I see Jump on a cure Shirts in the crowd, “says Hopkins from the foundation that he and his wife Jennifer formed in 2022, which has donated over $ 4 million in ALS research grants.” I feel the support and I see it in their faces and on their shirts and hats, and I am very grateful that years after a diagnosis like this that I can still perform. ”

To perform with a band like Zac Brown Band allows Hopkins to also shine a worthy limelight on a cure.

“We spend a lot of time and energy to find the best research projects out there,” he says. “Many of them do not have funding, so we can finance something that costs anywhere from $ 50,000 to $ 200,000 sometimes. It is incredible to be able to help.”

And while the way forward is unknown to everyone, Hopkins says it is a road that he still takes care of and ensures that it is as smooth as possible when it comes to his health.

“Progress (of ALS) is all different,” explains Hopkins of the disease that is currently incurable.

“I have received permission from my doctors to cut some calories, but really focus on food that is not processed. When looking at the things that may have caused ALS in my life, I have to think that it is something that I have done because I have always been on the road and sometimes quick food is the only choice. But in general, in general, I have done. that.

Donations can be made at www.hoponacure.org/donate; Hoac is also set up to support individual collection efforts. All the tools are available at www.hoponacure.org/fundraising.