Colt Ford Faced A Near-Death Experience In 2024

Country singer Colt Ford’s life took a sudden turn in April 2024 when he suffered a heart attack just minutes after stepping off the stage following a performance in Gilbert, Arizona.

After he was found unconscious on his tour bus, Ford was rushed to the hospital. His heart stopped twice before medical professionals were able to bring him back.

He then went through a 10-hour emergency surgery where doctors placed three stents in his heart.

Since then, Ford has been on a long and difficult road to recovery. He’s been working hard and has shared with fans that he’s lost a significant amount of weight by focusing on a healthier lifestyle, including better eating habits and regular exercise.

During a recent interview with Taste of Country Nights, the “Workin’ On” singer opened up about his near-death experience and revealed that while he was in a medically induced coma after surgery, something happened that he’ll never forget.

Colt Ford Says Toby Keith’s Spirit Encouraged Him To Stay Alive

Everyone has heard stories of people who’ve had a near-death experience and seen a light at the end of a tunnel. Well, for Ford, that was somewhat true.

But instead of crossing over, he says he saw a heavenly Toby Keith standing there, telling him to hold on.

“There was a bell, it was a bright light, and Toby stepped out and said, ‘They’re not ready for you yet, Little Dog, go on back down there,’” Colt recalled. “That’s how I woke up. I literally just opened my eyes.”

Seeing Keith’s spirit wasn’t as random as it might sound, though. He and Ford had been close friends for years, and spent a lot of their free time playing golf together. Keith even gave Ford the nickname “Little Dog Daddy.”

Unfortunately, Keith had passed away just two months before Ford’s heart attack after a long battle with stomach cancer.

But according to Colt, the version of Keith he saw while in the hospital was him “in his glory days.”

“He was larger than life, man. He was like John Wayne,” Ford added. “He was good to me… A lotta guys don’t reach back, but he would help you. A lot of guys don’t even answer the phone… I’ve learned that since the accident.”

Colt Ford Is Continuing To Perform Live

Although Ford is still recovering and working on his health, he decided that he was ready to get back to doing what he loves. In January, he announced plans to go back on tour.

He finished his first set of shows over the summer and still has many shows left in the books before the year ends.

According to his official website, he has performances scheduled through March 2026.