Colt Ford opens up about a recent health scare in new reporting from PEOPLE, giving fans the details behind his eye cancer diagnosis and eventual surgery.
The country-rap hit maker revealed the news just before going under the knife in late April, and has thankfully made a strong recovery so far.
Explaining that his illness came as a shock, Ford says he went to get checked out after friends noticed a spot on his right eye, and it was a good thing he did. He was referred to a specialist and told surgery would be needed immediately.
“The doctor told me I was a week to 10 days from having to go on full chemo,” Ford explained.
Joking that he could pull off the “pirate” look, Ford finally filled fans in via social media just before his procedure, and then sent out updates in the aftermath. Doctors said the eye needs to be watched closely, but Ford is already back onstage and moving forward with his career. But the whole episode came as a shock to friends and fans alike.
“I had so many friends asking, ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’” Ford explains. “But I just thought everyone was dealing with so much stuff and stress … I didn’t want to put that burden on anyone else. But it did feel good to have so many people reach out to me. It reminded me that it’s not always about the music. They actually care about me — the person.”
Ford’s comeback comes alongside high-octane new single, “When Country Comes Back,” written by Monty Criswell, Derek George, and Taylor Phillips.
The rowdy anthem speaks to the nation re-opening and asks the good timing question, “Where ya gonna be when country comes back?” But ironically, it was born before the COVID-19 pandemic even started.
“This song was written and cut before the pandemic even happened,” Ford says. “So, it really had nothing to do with the pandemic, but now, it has this double entendre sort of meaning.”
Colt Ford is currently out on the road on his When Country Comes Back tour, which runs all summer and into November. His new single is out now.