Watch Country Star Make Triumphant Return To Stage After Nearly Dying

Although looking to continue performing throughout 2024, life had other plans for Colt Ford, who suffered a heart attack and even died twice, according to himself. Thankfully, medical staff were able to revive the country singer. To make it worse, the heart attack happened shortly after his Arizona show in April. Spending the last few months focused on his health, Ford made his triumphant return to the stage Friday night. And there seemed no better place than standing beside his friend Brantley Gilbert in Nashville. 

For any fan of country music who visited Nashville, it is easy to feel the rich history of the city and the important role it played in the genre. Even before Ford took the stage, Gilbert revealed the surprise when he spoke with Taste of Country Nights. He pointed to the World’s Largest Album Release Party that was taking place Friday night. He said, “Tomorrow night, he is making his comeback on stage.” Keeping his word, Gilbert and Ford entertained fans as a video of their performance made its way online.

[RELATED: Colt Ford Shares Health Update After Near-Death Experience, Promises New Music Is on the Way]

Brantley Gilbert Considers Colt Ford A “Brother”

Sharing how he continued to work with Ford throughout his recovery, Gilbert explained, “While he was still in the hospital, we got with his crew, and got his mic stand. So every night when I play that song, I take it out and I put it beside me and tell folks I made Colt a promise — and I did — when the doctor released him and said he could do a show, ‘You’re coming with us.’”

Although Ford’s doctors still want him to take it easy before helming an entire concert, Gilbert insisted, “He’s coming from Oklahoma. He’s really making a hell of an effort to do it. I appreciate the hell out of him, I can’t imagine. There’s some uncertainty there, I’d imagine there’s a lot of anxiety there, about getting up and doing it again.”

Revealing his deep connection with Ford, Gilbert only wanted his friend to get better. “That dude’s my brother, he could call me, I don’t care what time of night it is, if I can’t be there I’ll have somebody there to sit with him until I get there.”

(Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)