Colt Ford Fights Tears While Sharing Memory Of Young, Cancer-Stricken Fan

Chuck Yarborough via The Plain Dealer

Over the course of his career, Colt Ford has had four of his albums appear in the top five spots on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart. His 2012 album, Declaration of Independence, claimed the chart’s top spot following its release, a major accomplishment considering that the album is from an independent label. 

“It was amazing,” Ford says in an interview with Billboard “I just thanked God for giving me the chance to do it and the fans who made it happen. I was so humbled by that. It just made me want to go back and do it again.“

As incredible as that moment was for Ford, he says that some of the most memorable moments of his career don’t necessarily revolve around his music, but rather his fans, especially those he meets through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. 

During his interview, Ford fought back tears as he opened up about a young fan he had the chance to meet over Labor Day weekend. The boy, who has cancer, made a wish through the Make-A-Wish Foundation to meet Ford.

“I spent 20 or 30 minutes talking to him and his family,” Ford says, getting emotional. “This kid is probably going to die. All he wanted to do was meet me.”

During a concert later that day, Ford gave his special fan the chance to join him during a performance of his Top 50 hit single, “Back”:

“I got my crew guy to hop off the stage and got him and put him onstage. I sat down on the monitor and sat him on my lap, and we played the song. It was so hard. He was shaking and trembling but singing along as good as he could. I just held him and sang the song. It was one of the coolest things I have ever done.”

Following his interview with Billboard, Ford revealed that he was going to Nashville’s Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital to meet yet another young fan who made a wish to meet him.

Out of all of the moments in his career, it is the time spent with these young fans that Ford truly treasures. “It takes your breath away,” he says.

Ford has always been glad to share his music in order to help others, something he did with his single “Workin’ On,” which raises awareness about PTSD. In addition, Ford partnered with the Lone Survivor Foundation to donate some of the song’s proceeds to the organization. You can watch the official music video for “Workin’ On” below.

Music can have such an impact on our lives, and it’s clear that Ford’s music is making a difference in the lives of many.