Country star Colt Ford drops 60lb, changes diet after heart attack led to 8-day coma: 'I died two times'

ATHENS, GEORGIA: Country music star Colt Ford is embracing a whole new way of life after surviving a massive heart attack that left him in an eight-day coma last April.

The "Slow Ride" singer has made some serious changes to his diet and lifestyle, cutting out longtime favorites like fried chicken and Mountain Dew - a decision he credits with saving his life.

And for his 55th birthday, he proved just how much his mindset has evolved.

"When I woke up, my wife Megan goes, ‘I’ll take you to Waffle House,’" Ford recalled in an interview with People. "And I said, ‘Nah, I don’t want to go.’ That’s when I knew I had won. I broke the habit."

For Ford, who once weighed 340 pounds, this wasn’t just about skipping a meal - it was about reclaiming his health.

Colt Ford's 60-pound weight loss

Best known for co-writing Jason Aldean’s smash hit "Dirt Road Anthem" and collaborating with Toby Keith, Ford has spent years performing under the bright lights of country music. But behind the scenes, he was struggling with unhealthy eating habits that were taking a toll on his body.

"I loved that stuff," he admitted about his past diet. "I was a terrible eater."

But after his brush with death, he knew things had to change.

Ford — who now weighs 190 pounds — swapped out greasy fast food for healthier options.

"I've changed everything," he said. "If I go by Whataburger, I'll eat a grilled chicken sandwich. I don't do all the fries and stuff. McDonald's used to be my s**t, and I loved it, but I haven't even craved it."

The transformation has been nothing short of mind-blowing. "I’m wearing a 32-inch waist now instead of 44—but I’ve told everybody, there’s much easier diets," he joked. "I’m looking at it as a blessing. I’m going to be healthier than I’ve ever been."

Colt Ford's heart attack that changed everything

Ford’s wake-up call came last April when he collapsed following a performance in Phoenix, Arizona.

"I didn't even remember coming out here to do a show," he shared in an emotional interview on the Big D & Bubba radio show. "Apparently, we played this great, sold-out show, and it was incredible. I walked back to the bus, texted my fiancée, ‘Hi baby,’ and fell over dead."

Ford flatlined twice and had to undergo a grueling 10-hour surgery. He was then placed on an ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) machine for a week, a life-support system that keeps oxygen flowing through the blood when the heart and lungs fail.

When doctors saw him pull through, they were stunned. "My doctor said, ‘I have no idea how you survived,'" he recalled.

Ford himself believes there’s only one explanation.

"God has more for me to do," he said. "For some reason, He saw fit to give me another chance, so I intend to do something positive with it."

Colt Ford lost his memory but found his purpose

The experience was nothing short of terrifying. Ford revealed that after texting his fiancee, he has no memory of what happened next.

"I didn't even remember coming out here to do a show in Phoenix, and apparently we played this great, sold-out show, and it was incredible," Ford admitted in a phone interview at the time. "I walked back to the bus, texted my fiancee, ‘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." 

During the chaos, Ford was rushed to a hospital but was later transferred to another facility for more advanced care.

He was told that he "died on the way over," but medics "brought me back, saved my life." 

Now, Ford is more determined than ever to use his second chance to make a difference. "The Lord had more for me to do," he said. "More music for me to make, hopefully more differences to make in some people's lives."