Post-Concert Medical Emergency: Country Star Colt Ford Suffers Heart Attack
Country singer and rapper Colt Ford, known for co-writing the hit song “Dirt Road Anthem,” has been hospitalized after suffering a heart attack on Thursday in Gilbert, Arizona. The medical emergency struck shortly after Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row performance.
Ford, whose real name is Jason Farris Brown, had just wrapped up his set when he experienced the heart attack. He was swiftly transported to Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, where he is currently in the Intensive Care Unit. Although listed in stable but critical condition, Ford’s representatives have not yet provided further details.
Hailing from Athens, Ga., Ford is multiplatinum singer-songwriter with several No. 1 hits to his name. “Dirt Road Anthem,” which he originally wrote and recorded with Brantley Gilbert, was notably covered by Jason Aldean for his 2010 album My Kinda Party and nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Solo Performance. Ford’s own albums include Ride Through the Country, Declaration of Independence, and Must Be the Country.
A Musical Journey
Colt Ford has made a significant impact on the country-rap music scene. Alongside Brantley Gilbert, he co-wrote the chart-topping “Dirt Road Anthem,” which gained fame when Jason Aldean recorded it for his 2010 album “My Kinda Party.” Ford has collaborated with various stars, including Jake Owen, Chase Rice, Walker Hayes, Toby Keith, Lady A, and Willie Nelson.
Colt Ford Suffers Heart Attack
In 2022, Ford was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a chronic neuromuscular autoimmune disease that weakens voluntary muscles. Despite this health setback, he continued to perform and create music. Earlier, he faced eye cancer but fortunately avoided full chemotherapy due to early detection. Ford underwent surgery and returned to the stage within days remarkably.
Ford has dealt with health issues before, including eye cancer and myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease. Speaking to Taste of Country about his MG diagnosis in May, he said, “It’s been tough. The last year quite honestly got really hard for me. It’s a disease and there’s no cure for this.”
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He added that the disease “affects the muscles in your face, your eyes, and your throat. It hadn’t really affected my throat, but it really affected my eye. I had no control over my right eye. It really messes with your vision. I could see perfectly out of either eye, but then I would look together and I’d see three of you and you would be melting together like a lava lamp.”
From Golf to Music
Before his music career, the Georgia native was a professional golfer on the Nationwide Tour. His passion for country and hip-hop led him to embrace the stage, where he has left an indelible mark. In 2011, Ford received an ACM award nomination for Vocal Event of the Year for his song “Cold Beer” with Jamey Johnson.
But the former golf pro also said he’d been fighting through the dark moments. “I had a lot of folks that love me and that supported me and pushed me to get through it,” he said. “I feel like I’m on the other side. I’ve gotten out of that hole now, and I ain’t going back down in it.”
According to his website, Ford had numerous tour dates scheduled for the weeks ahead, including a Friday show in Primm, Nev., and a Saturday slot at the Wake the Lake Country Festival in Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Our thoughts are with Colt Ford during this challenging time. We hope for his swift recovery and a return to making music that resonates with fans worldwide.
Listen to Colt Ford’s music on Spotify.
