Colt Ford is in a ‘stable but critical condition’ following a heart attack on Thursday, it’s been reported.
According to a spokesperson for the 54-year-old singer, he suffered a medical emergency after a show in Gilbert, Arizona at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row last week.
Colt – real name Jason Farris Brown is best known for his fusion of country music and rap.
The country star was taken to a medical centre in Mesa, according to Ryan Bell, Ford’s manager of publicity, who confirmed the news to Metro.co.uk.
On Saturday he was transferred to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale.
Over his career, Colt has released seven albums – including Declaration of Independence and hanks for Listening – via Average Joes Entertainment, which he co-founded following a stint as a professional golfer, having competed on the professional circuit for some years.
Alongside selling 3million albums, over the years Colt has collaborated with the likes of Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Jermaine Dupri to members of No Doubt, Lit, and Lady Antebellum.
Three years ago Colt revealed he had undergone surgery for eye cancer, after noticing a spot on his eye.
‘The doctor told me I was a week to 10 days from having to go on full chemo,’ he told People.
‘I went to a doctor in Georgia that specialized in cataracts and all that stuff, and I remember them saying, “This ain’t good” and “You gotta get this out,”‘ he recalled.
‘They wanted me to go see a cornea specialist, Dr. Uyen Tran, in Nashville, and that’s when I started getting really nervous.’
After surgery, Ford continued his music career and treated the cancer with chemotherapy drops.
Last year, Colt further opened up about his health struggles, as he told : ‘I’ve gotten in a lot better shape, and I just feel great. My life is in a great place.
‘I’m getting married in October. I found my person. And I’m just as happy and excited as I’ve been about music, which is kind of hard to believe. I feel like I’m not even making my best music.
‘Last year I got diagnosed with an autoimmune disease called Myasthenia Gravis. 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.’
He explained how the condition affects the muscles in your face, eyes, and throat, and for him it ‘messed’ with his vision.
When looking out of both eyes, Colt would see subjects ‘melting together like a lava lamp,’ he explained, adding that symptoms also included ‘terrible fatigue’.
Colt was put on supplements which ‘really helped’ him, and he was relieved to be in a ‘better place’ for it.
Most recently, Colt released a single with DJ Cliffy D and Jesslee called Beers Back.
He was scheduled to perform at two other venues in Nevada and Arizona over the weekend before he was hospitalised.
Metro.co.uk has reached out to Colt Ford’s representatives for comment.
