Country star Colt Ford credits God for second chance after he ‘died 2 times' from near-fatal heart attack
On April 4, before a performance in Arizona, the "Slow Ride" singer faced a frightening health crisis and nearly dropped dead.
After Ford suffered a heart attack, he revealed he died twice before reaching the hospital, and ended up in a coma for eight days.
Once Ford woke up in a hospital bed, he told himself this was a sign from God.
"God just told me, I need to sit down and pay attention to what's going on around me," Ford, 54, told Fox News Digital.
WATCH: COLT FORD CREDITS GOD FOR SECOND CHANCE AFTER NEAR-FATAL HEART ATTACK
"And I think try to use it for … something as positive as I can … no matter what it is, I'm meant to have that second chance. That just doesn't happen. You know? … It is such a gift. I realize how precious some things are now, and it makes me focus a little bit differently."
Ford described how his near-death experience changed his outlook on life.
"Wow. It's been pretty profound, for sure. … It just makes you realize some of the things you think are important or that maybe you were chasing as a younger man or a younger person … they're not really that important," he said.
"I've always been … an alpha male kind of guy. And all of a sudden, I wake up out of a coma and I can't even feed myself ice out of a Styrofoam cup. … It's very humbling."
In May, during an appearance on the "Big D & Bubba" show, Ford admitted he "didn't even remember" going out to Phoenix to do a show. "I walked back to the bus, texted my fiancée, 'Hi baby,' and fell over dead. I died two times. Luckily, my band came out to check on me. … All of a sudden, that's when all hell broke loose."
When asked if he had any symptoms leading up to his health crisis, Ford told Fox News Digital, "It was kind of a perfect storm for me."
Ford explained that he was working towards his weight-loss journey and his hospitalization led him to do a serious reality check.
WATCH: COLT FORD SHARES HEALTH UPDATE AFTER SUFFERING NEAR-FATAL HEART ATTACK
In 2022, the country star began the switch to a healthier lifestyle after he was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness.
Ford detailed how his diagnosis threw him into a "big medical loop."
"That myostatin, it really messed up my vision and caused a lot of fatigue," he told Fox News Digital. "I just started getting that under control."
Myostatin is an extracellular cytokine – a type of protein that is made by certain immune and non-immune cells – mostly expressed in skeletal muscles and known to play a crucial role in the negative regulation of muscle mass, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Ford grew up in the South and admitted he had unhealthy food habits and was forced to change his diet and fitness routine. He added that being on the road touring didn't help him cut back on his food indulgences.
"I'm from Georgia. … We fry things, we put butter on it, we put gravy on it. … I'd love to eat my mama's cubed steak and rice and gravy and mac and cheese. I love all that stuff. And, I loved Zaxby's and fried chicken … burgers. That's what I ate on the road, too."
WATCH: COLT FORD 'BROKE THE CRAVINGS' OF UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE AFTER HEART ATTACK LED TO 8-DAY COMA
Since his heart attack, Ford decided to scale back on fried foods and eat in moderation.
"I broke the cravings for a lot of that stuff … I don't want to go eat it."
While fried chicken and Mountain Dew were previously a staple for Ford, he now has a new fitness and diet routine.
"Lots of grilled chicken, lots of grilled stuff," he remarked. "I haven't had a soda since April, and I used to love me some Mountain Dew. So, no soda, just water. Unsweet tea."
"I'm on the treadmill a lot and trying to get into some yoga and Pilates," Ford laughed as he said that's not something he ever thought he'd get into.
"I'm working on all that and just trying to get my strength … it's a lot of getting your strength back and your balance … but it's OK. I'm fighting through it. I'm still here. I'm still blessed."
Ford told Fox News Digital that at one point, he weighed 350 pounds, and now he's down to about 190 pounds.
With a second lease on life, Ford is charging into 2025 with renewed energy, ready to deliver new shows, fresh collaborations and an arsenal of new music — mindful of the fact that life can change in the blink of an eye, and he plans to "walk a little slower" moving forward.
The country star recently released his first single since his heart attack, "Hell Out of It."
"It was a song written by some great friends of mine, Cole Taylor and Michael Tyler … I loved the song instantly when Cole sent it to me. But then after this, it took on a whole different meaning," Ford said, referring to his near-fatal heart attack.
"It was already like you knew what the song meant, but for me, it just changed everything."
Ford collaborated with his good friend, Michael Ray, on his new song, as described the meaning behind the track.
"I'm trying to make things simpler … get back to the basic stuff. Just being a good human being, being a good steward of the Earth."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
Cracker Barrel's new text-only logo is 'how you destroy a brand,' critics claim
Cracker Barrel's new logo was accused by conservative critics of being the company's "Bud Light" moment after receiving intense online backlash, while CEO Julie Felss Masino contended the response has been "overwhelmingly positive." The company unveiled the new logo on Tuesday as part of its new branding campaign for the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store restaurants. The campaign eliminated the iconic image of a man resting on a barrel in favor of a text-only logo for the first time since 1977. According to a company press release, this new logo is still "anchored in Cracker Barrel's signature gold and brown tones" and "now rooted even more closely to the iconic barrel shape and word mark that started it all." "People like what we're doing," Masino told "Good Morning America" on Tuesday. "Cracker Barrel needs to feel like the Cracker Barrel for today and for tomorrow – the things that you love are still there. We need people to choose us, and we want people to choose us." However, many social media users disagreed, particularly on the right, claiming the new logo was "dull" and destroyed the point of the brand. "They took away the cracker and the barrel. What even is the point now?" Radio host Jesse Kelly asked. "When will they learn?" conservative influencer Benny Johnson asked, calling the change "absolutely horrible." RedState writer Bonchie declared, "This is how you destroy a brand." "WTF is wrong with @CrackerBarrel??!" Donald Trump Jr. exclaimed. Conservative writer Rod Dreher wrote, "The New Coke of corporate logos. Dull and unasked-for." Country music singer John Rich asked his followers, "Will you go to Cracker Barrel now that it's going woke? This could be a 'Bud Light' moment in the making..." "All I want is to sit down next to a roaring fire after church in a cozy country diner run by patriots and have a hot stack of diabetes served by an old woman named Maude who calls me 'hon' or 'darlin' and still smokes two packs a day. Is that too much to ask? Apparently it's too much to ask," The Federalist co-founder Sean Davis wrote. National Review reporter James Lynch wrote, "There's a new trend where corporate marketing departments with nothing to do ruin classic company logos for no reason." Fox News Digital reached out to Cracker Barrel for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Cracker Barrel had already come under fire earlier this month after videos of the restaurant chain's new look went viral. Critics similarly accused the redesign of being "bland and boring." Cracker Barrel chief marketing officer Sarah Moore previously told Fox News Digital that the chain's ongoing transformation incorporated not only customer feedback but also employee input. She claimed Cracker Barrel is "listening to what the guests ask for – and examples of what the guests asked for are things like spaces that feel brighter, that feel less cluttered, more booth seating, more seating options, so our guests are more comfortable while they're dining with us." "It really is about taking that feedback and testing into various levels of remodels that, again, represent exactly who we are but create a brighter, lighter, fresher experience," she said.
Fox News
3 hours ago
- Fox News
Zach Bryan slammed by fellow country singer who doubts the truth behind his image
Country singer Gavin Adcock is calling out fellow artist Zach Bryan. Adcock didn't hold back his thoughts on Bryan in a new interview - he slammed the "Something in the Orange" singer for his alleged rude response to a 14-year-old fan who was disappointed after one of his concerts, then called his character into question. "It wasn't about not wanting to sign autographs after a show, it's like letting a 14-year-old kid rant, without saying, 'Get off my d---.' You're bigger than that," Adcock said on the "Rolling Stone Nashville Now" podcast. The rising star and former college football player additionally accused Bryan of hiding behind a certain image, saying, "I think that Zach Bryan puts on a big mask in his day-to-day life … sometimes he can't help but rip it off and show his true colors. I don't know if Zach Bryan's really that great of a person." Last month, a young fan who waited for hours after a show in hopes of getting an autograph from Bryan took to TikTok, according to Whiskey Riff, and wrote, "We waited 3 hours outside to meet Zach Bryan … he completely blew everyone off and drove away like a jerk." Bryan reportedly replied in a now-deleted comment, "You're not entitled after someone plays two and a half hours to a picture or a hello. GOMD [Get off my d---]." Adcock's comments come after he additionally called out Bryan on X, formerly known as Twitter, for the same issue. Last month, he wrote, "If you can't handle the criticism of a 14 year old why do people idolize you?" "That kid was head over heels to meet you and spent/ parents spent a ton of money to see you. He's got feeling too and a you're a 'grown man' nearly 30 … They're the only reason you are around." Reps for Adcock and Bryan did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Meanwhile, Adcock previously slammed Beyoncé for releasing a country album. In July, Adcock brought up the Apple Music country album chart rankings during his performance. At the time, Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" was listed at No. 3, while his album, "Own Worst Enemy," sat at No. 4. "One of them's Beyoncé. You can tell her we're coming for her f---in' a--," he said in a fan video. "That s--- ain't country music, and it ain't ever been country music." The "Run Your Mouth" singer later made it clear his criticisms weren't personal in a social media video he captioned, "It ain't country." "I'm going to go ahead and clear this up," he said on X. "When I was a little kid, my mama was blasting some Beyoncé in the car. I've heard a ton of Beyoncé songs and I actually remember her Super Bowl Halftime Show being pretty kick-a-- back in the day. "But I really don't believe her album should be labeled as country music. It doesn't sound country, it doesn't feel country… I just don't think that people that have dedicated their whole lives to this genre and this lifestyle should have to compete or watch that album just stay at the top just because she's Beyoncé."
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Nip/Tuck star Dylan Walsh and family involved in major car crash
Nip/Tuck star Dylan Walsh and his family were involved in a serious car crash over the weekend in Rumson, New Jersey. The 61-year-old actor, who played Dr. Sean McNamara on the six-season medical drama, and four other passengers were reportedly heading northbound on a local street when the car suddenly swerved into the opposing lane before smashing into a utility pole, according to TMZ. Police told the publication that two people were taken to the hospital after complaining of pain at the scene. It's unclear who required medical attention or who was driving the SUV, a 2022 Ford Explorer, but photos of the crash show the front of the car heavily damaged with the front airbags deployed. 'Over the weekend, Dylan Walsh and his family were involved in a car accident in Rumson. Thankfully, everyone is safe and has since returned home,' Walsh's representative told The Independent. 'The family is deeply grateful for the swift response of the Rumson Police, Fire Department, and EMS, as well as the staff at Riverview Medical Center for their care,' they added. 'They would also like to extend a special thank-you to the management and staff of The River Point Inn for their support in the immediate aftermath.' The Independent has contacted the Rumson Police Department for comment. Per local news outlet Towns Of: Monmouth County, NJ, Walsh's wife, Leslie Bourque, posted about the crash in a since-deleted Facebook post. 'It was our family who was involved in the car accident on River Road yesterday afternoon. We just want to thank everyone who took care of us in this scary time,' Bourque reportedly wrote. '1st of all to the managers/staff at River Point Inn who immediately ran out to make sure we were ok and comfort our kids (literally one lady wrapped her arms around all of us letting us know it would be ok) — bringing ice bags and the fancy Evian water bottle.' She concluded with an update on the family's wellbeing, adding: 'We are a bit bruised from seatbelts, but grateful for them and air bags which saved our lives. We apologize for anyone who lost power or inconvenience.' Walsh and Bourque have been married since 2022 and share two children: daughter Amelie Bell, 13, and son Hudson Scott, 12. He also has two adult children, Thomas and Joanna, from his first marriage to Boogie Nights actor Melora Walters. The former pair were married from 1996 to 2003. He then married actor Joanna Going from 2014 to 2012, with whom he shares daughter Stella, 21. Walsh is best known for his leading role as Dr. Sean McNara alongside the late Julian McMahon in FX's Nip/Tuck, which aired from 2003 to 2010. He's more recently starred in the CW's Superman and Lois as General Sam Lane and the police procedural Blue Bloods as Mayor Pete Chase. Solve the daily Crossword
