<div><p>Country music fans got some bad news this week when one of the genre's biggest stars revealed they were suffering from a potentially fatal disease.</p><p>Jeff cook, the guitarist and fiddle player for the award-winning country band Alabama, announced that for 4 years he has been keeping his Parkinson's disease diagnosis a secret. </p><p>Parkinson's is a disease that effects the body's nervous system. It can be fatal and aggressive or very gradual. Other celebrities, like Michael J. Fox and Billy Graham, also have the disease.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Jeff-Cook-2012-Stagecoach-California-Country-UHqWOhN9UAol.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/Jeff-Cook-2012-Stagecoach-California-Country-UHqWOhN9UAol_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Zimbio</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p></p><p>Cook revealed his condition during an interview with <em><a href="http://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/04/11/exclusive-alabama-member-reveals-parkinsons-diagnosis/100285618/" target="_blank">The Tennessean</a></em>, where he read a prepared statement to his fans.</p><p>"I've tried not to burden anyone with the details of my condition because I do not want the music to stop or the party to end, and that won't change no matter what," he said. </p><p>"Let me say, I'm not calling it quits but sometimes our bodies dictate what we have to do, and mine is telling me it's time to take a break and heal."</p><p>Cook will be leaving the band at the end of the month to focus on his health, but will make special appearances at a Orange Beach tour date in May and another in June.</p><div><figure><amp-img src="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/123-2.jpg" srcset="https://www.shared.com/content/images/2017/04/123-2_GH_content_550px.jpg 550w" sizes="89vw" title="" alt="" height="9" width="16" layout="responsive"></amp-img><figcaption class="op-vertical-center"><cite>Amazon</cite></figcaption></figure></div><p><!-- [invalid-shortcode] --></p><p></p><p>While other musicians will fill in for Cook, the band says they'll keep his microphone on stage while he's gone.</p><p>"We could hire 10 people, but we can't replace Jeff Cook in the group Alabama," said Teddy Gentry, the band's bass player.</p><p>Alabama has sold over 75 million records, recorded 43 number one hits and was inducted into the Country Hall of Fame. </p><p><strong>Share this post if you love their music!</strong></p></div>