Colt Ford has a new album, Little Out There, out now. The record, Ford’s first since his near-fatal heart attack last year, is in many ways a new chapter for Ford, after also being given a new lease on life.

“I had started the record before the accident,” Ford tells Everything Nash. “I was in a different place. I was in that place. And now I had to make a couple of changes, ’cause I’m in a different place now. It’s exciting because I didn’t work for a year, and I’m not used to that. And so, not working for a year, my voice changed a little bit. So some of these new songs, people were like, ‘That’s you singing? … I didn’t know you could do that.’

“I wasn’t sure I could do that either,” he adds with a laugh. “I don’t know if I could do that before. So I’m excited about that. It’s an exciting kind of new journey for some of the things that I can do musically now.”

Colt Ford Opens Up About His Heart Attack

On April 5, 2024, Ford suffered a heart attack after performing at Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row in Arizona. Ford died twice, and his chance of survival was very slim.

“My doctor said I was 1 percent of the 1 percent,” Ford tells CBS News. “I don’t know how much more dire it can be than that.”

Ford, of course, did survive, but his brush with death changed everything for him. He now sticks to a healthy diet, and makes exercise a priority. He also feels grateful for a second chance, one that is propelling him to live life to the fullest.

“It’s just changed my outlook on so many things,” Ford tells Everything Nash. “I mean, things that I was chasing, and things before that I may have thought were important, not so much anymore. I just walk a little slower, pay a little more attention to everything around me. It’s a real thing. It’s a real-life, life-altering thing.”

 

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The Guest Artists Who Join Colt Ford on ‘Little Out There’

Ford is joined by a guest artist on all but three of the 13 tracks on Little Out There, including Michael Ray and Craig Campbell, two of Ford’s favorite singers.

“Michael and Craig are both two of my great friends, and both just two great singers,” Ford boasts. “The song ‘Hell Out Of It,’ Michael’s special, is a cool song. And I’m just a huge Craig Campbell fan. He is somebody I met maybe 20 years ago. I think he’s one of the most underrated country singers of all time, to be quite honest with you. He is certainly in town. He’s something special. So there’s a lot of cool guys on there.”

Other artists joining Ford on Little Out There include Creed Fisher, Josh Kelley, Tyler Booth, and more.

Colt Ford’s Goal With ‘Little Out There’

Ride Through the Country, Ford’s debut album, came out in 2008. Since then, Ford has sold millions of albums, and traveled all over the country, performing to sold-out crowds. One thing he hasn’t done is have a Top 40 at country radio. After several years and multiple records, with Ford trying to chase that elusive goal, with Little Out There, Ford returns to his first love: making music that feels authentic to him.

“This record to me, it ain’t about chasing anything,” Ford says. “I’m back to the very way I started, which is I make music first of all. It’s gotta be something that I love. I’m not chasing anything or anybody. I’m just gonna make the best songs I can make, give them to the people, and let them say what they like and what they don’t like. I listen to them, and try to give them more of that. That’s all I want. I’m gonna keep doing that.

“I’m not chasing radio,” he continues. “I’m not trying to make it a certain length song. I’m not doing that. I’d love for them to play me. I’d give anything, ’cause I grew up on radio, but I can’t make that happen. So I’m making the best songs I can make and whatever happens, I’m alright with it.”

‘Little Out There’ Track List:

01. Hell Out Of It (feat. Michael Ray)
02. Farmboy (feat. Caden McGuire)
03. Dirty (feat. Creed Fisher)
04. Can’t Hide Country (feat. Tyler Booth)
05. Country AF (feat. Jay Webb)
06. Little Out There (feat. Don Louis)
07. Truck On Fire
08. Big Bucks (feat. Craig Campbell)
09. Country Enough (feat. Josh Kelley)
10. Unless She’s Jesus
11. The Tracks
12. Home (feat. Josh Mirenda)
13. Shades (feat. Yelawolf and Bryan Martin)