Things are looking up for Colt Ford following his recent heart attack.
The country-rap star was taken to the ICU last week after experiencing a heart attack following his performance at Dierks Bentley's Whiskey Row venue in Gilbert, Arizona. Now, a rep for Ford tells he's on the mend while continuing to receive care.
"Ford remains in the ICU, with his condition steadily improving in a positive direction," reads a statement from the 54-year-old musician's team on Monday, April 8. "At this time, his family is requesting privacy and appreciates your continued thoughts and prayers."
On Friday, April 5, reps for Ford issued a press release stating that he'd suffered a heart attack the day prior and was "under care in the Intensive Care Unit at the Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona."
In fact, I had allowed enjoyment for these ˹Meccans˺ and their forefathers, until the truth came to them along with a messenger making things clear.
(The Quran - Chapter Az-Zukhruf : 29)
Born Jason Farris Brown, the performer first earned notice as a professional golfer on the Nationwide Tour before pursuing a career blending country and hip-hop music.
His debut album, Ride Through the Country, was released in 2008 and featured collaborations with John Michael Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson and Brantley Gilbert, among others.
Ford and Gilbert cowrote the song "Dirt Road Anthem," which was first featured on Ride Through the Country and later recorded by Jason Aldean in 2010 and released as a single, eventually reaching No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Other hit songs featuring Ford as the lead artist include "Back" with Jake Owen, "Drivin' Round Song" with Aldean and "The High Life" with Chase Rice.
In 2021, Ford revealed he'd been diagnosed with eye cancer. "The doctor told me I was a week to 10 days from having to go on full chemo," he told at the time.
He returned to the stage days after undergoing surgery. "I had so many friends asking, 'Why didn't you tell me?'" he said at the time. "But I just thought everyone was dealing with so much stuff and stress."
The diagnosis and operation led Ford to shift his outlook on life. "I thought to myself … all the dumb s--- I have done, I could have killed myself multiple times and this is what is going to take me out?" he explained.
"I know darn well that God never puts anything on you that you can't handle, but the Lord might have a lot more confidence in me than I thought," said Ford at the time.
Ford beat the cancer, though he was later diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune disease called myasthenia gravis that affects the face, eyes and throat.
"It hadn't really affected my throat, but it really affected my eye," said Ford in a May 2023 interview with Taste of Country, noting that he "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," he continued at the time.
