Country music artist Colt Ford, 53, experienced a heart attack following his performance at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in Gilbert, Arizona, on Thursday night. After his set, Ford was rushed to Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, where he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. He is currently reported to be in stable but critical condition.
Ford, whose birth name is Jason Farris Brown, is a well-known figure in the country-rap music genre. He has collaborated with numerous country music stars and has been featured on several tracks. Ford, along with Brantley Gilbert, co-wrote the hit song “Dirt Road Anthem,” which was later popularized by Jason Aldean in his 2010 album “My Kinda Party.” Ford’s collaborations extend to various stars including Jake Owen, Chase Rice, Walker Hayes, Toby Keith, Lady A, and Willie Nelson.
In 2022, Ford was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a chronic neuromuscular autoimmune disease that weakens voluntary muscles. The singer has previously stated that the disease has significantly affected his eye, causing vision problems. In 2023, he told Taste of Country, “It hadn’t really affected my throat, but it really affected my eye. I had no control over my 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.”
Prior to this, Ford had been diagnosed with eye cancer, which was detected early enough to avoid full chemotherapy. He underwent surgery following the diagnosis and was back on stage days later.
Before his music career, the Georgia native was a professional golfer on the Nationwide Tour. His passion for country and hip hop music led him to transition from sports to music. In 2011, Ford was nominated for an ACM award for Vocal Event of the Year for “Cold Beer” with Jamey Johnson.
Ford recently released a single with DJ Cliffy D and Jesslee titled “Beers Back.” He was scheduled to perform at two other venues in Nevada and Arizona over the weekend before his hospitalization.