What Disease Does John Driskell Hopkins Have? Zac Brown Band Member With ALS Diagnosis

May 2024 ยท 4 minute read

John Driskell Hopkins is a founding member and multi-instrumentalist of the Grammy-winning country group Zac Brown Band.

His role in the group is varied as he is not only a founding member but a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter.

Some of the songs that Hopkins has co-written for the band have become extremely popular such as their third single, Toes, from their major-label debut Foundation, which became the band's second number 1 single. 

Age:51
Net Worth:$25 Million
Profession:Musical Artist
Nationality:American
Wife:Jennifer Hopkins
Band:Zac Brown Band

Most recently, Hopkins co-wrote the band's first number 1 hit on the Billboard Modern Rock Chart called Heavy Is the Head, which featured the late Chris Cornell and was the second single from their 2015 album Jekyll + Hyde. 

Besides the Zac Brown Band, Hopkins has his band called Brighter Shade, which he founded in 1996. The band has recorded two albums, Brighter Shade and Divine Ignorance, respectively, but the behind-the-scenes production stuff inspired Hopkins from this experience.

During and after his time with Brighter Shade, Hopkins got involved with the production end of things and took a shine towards producing, recording, and collaborating on several projects in the Atlanta area, which is how he ended up meeting and working with Zac Brown.

This friendship would eventually lead to them making the Zac Brown Band.

What Disease Does John Driskell Hopkins Have?

John Driskell Hopkins was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, more commonly known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, in December 2021.

Hopkins did not publically announce the diagnosis until May 20, 2022, when he and the rest of the Zac Brown Band announced Hopkin's state to the world through a Youtube video. Following his diagnosis, Hopkins founded a charity called Hop on a Cure to fund the research of the disease.

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ALS is a frightening progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

It causes people to lose the ability to speak, eat, move and eventually breathe. It is a terrifying disease that gained a lot of traction in the early 2010s with the ALS challenge, wherein people would have cold water dunked on them because the way the nerves react to cold water is similar to the effects of ALS.

Despite the terrifying reality of the disease, Hopkins has stated that he will keep rocking with the band for many years as he doesn't plan to stop anytime soon. He has stated that his confidence comes from the fact that since his symptoms were slowly progressing from the start, they will be slowly progressing in the future.

John Driskell Hopkins Illness & Weight Loss

Thankfully, John Driskell Hopkins' diagnosis has not affected him severely, like causing weight loss.

Hopkins first realized something was wrong three years before his diagnosis. He realized that he couldn't strum his banjo as fast as the country star could and couldn't jump around the stage like he always used to. Hopkins was having balance issues.

At first, he just chalked it up to getting older. He was approaching 50, but try as he might diet and exercise, nothing was helping. 

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For two years, multiple neurologists were stumped and befuddled until finally, one doctor pinpointed that Hopkins had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS. Hopkins and his wife of over a decade, Jennifer, were shocked, and as he's told the press, they spent weeks crying just imagining a future where Hopkins would be in a wheelchair, unable to speak or move. 

At first, the couple decided to keep the diagnosis to themselves, more so than anything, to spare their three young daughters from pain. After all, the disease was not progressing quickly. Still, Hopkins didn't feel right knowing that he had the potential and ability to make a difference for the almost 5,000 Americans a year who get diagnosed with ALS. 

That realization is the core behind the creation of Hopkins' charity Hop on a Cure, with which he hopes to help himself and everyone diagnosed with ALS by funding research to know more about the disease and hopefully find a cure.

Also Read: Firearms Trainer James Yeager Has Terminal Illness & ALS

What Is John Driskell Hopkins' Net Worth?

John Driskell Hopkins' net worth has been at $25 million as of 2022, which is no surprise as he is a member of a hugely successful country band.

Hopkins' band, Zac Brown Band, has had 16 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, and 13 singles have reached number 1. Their major label debut, Foundation, is certified triple-platinum, and its follow-ups, You Get What You Give and Uncaged, are certified platinum. 

With great power, there must also come great responsibility, and it's incredible to see that Hopkins is using his sizeable net worth towards a great cause, and hopefully, his efforts are rewarded. 

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