NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Colt Ford, the genre-bending country music pioneer hailing from Athens, Georgia, returns with his first full-length studio album in three years titled Must Be The Country. The 24 track body of work includes new singles featuring prominent artists such as Tracy Lawrence, Brantley Gilbert, Sam Grow, Tracy Byrd, and more. The project is now available for download and stream on all major digital platforms.
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The album, which emerged amidst Ford’s courageous battle against eye cancer, showcases his deep vocal range and impeccable delivery. Following a rigorous surgery to eliminate the tumor, Ford’s resilience shone through as he confronted another obstacle: a diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis, an autoimmune disorder impacting facial muscles and neural connections. Undeterred by his personal health challenges, Ford has remained an inspiration, continuing to play over 120 shows per year and crafting new projects that are slated for release later this year. His unwavering human spirit permeates his music, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to his artistry.
Must Be The Country Tracklisting:
1. “Must Be The Country” feat. Dillon Carmichael (Michael Ray Carter, Cole Taylor, Chase McGill)
2. “Paint The Town Redneck” (Colt Ford, Cole Taylor)
3. “Raised ‘Round Here” feat. Brantley Gilbert (Brock Berryhill, Brantley Gilbert, Josh Phillips)
4. “Nights In Trucks” feat. Noah Gordon (Jaren Ray Johnston, Neil D Mason, Jonathan David Singleton)
5. “Busted” (Connie Rae Harrington, John Thomas Osborne, Thomas John Osborne)
6. “Running This Country” feat. Tracy Byrd & Tracy Lawrence (Brandon Calvin Good, William Michael Morgan, Jeffrey Steele)
7. “Carhartt Kids” (Josh Phillips, Heath Sanders)
8. “Brooks & Dunn” (Noah Gordon, Colt Ford)
9. “Break Out The Rowdy” (Ira Dean, Jamie Owen Grooms)
10. “Boys Will Be Boys” feat. Tim Montana (Colt Ford, Taylor Phillips, Brock Berryhill, Jay Brunswick)
11. “Don’t Forget Where You Came From” feat. Sam Grow (Jaren Johnston, Ross Copperman, Nicolle Galyon)
12. “Want One“ (Ira Dean, Robert W. Terry, Chris Allen Wallin)
13. “My Girlfriend’s Got A Girlfriend” (Ira Dean, Eddie Montgomery, Kim Tribble)
14. “Something I Can Get Behind” (Michael Wilson Hardy, Michael Joseph Reaves, Jake Mitchell)
15. “Cooter Huntin’” (Timothy A. Smith, Julian Collin Bunetta)
16. “When Country Comes Back” (Monty Criswell, Derek George, Taylor Phillips)
17. “Hood” feat. Kevin Gates & Jermaine Dupri (Michael Hardy, Jordan Schmidt, Brad Tursi, Kevin Gates)
18. “Keys To The Country” feat. RVSHVD, Vince Gill & Dan Tyminski (Colt Ford, Taylor Phllips, Josh Mirenda)
19. “If I Don’t Know Better” feat. Meghan Patrick (Taylor Phillips, Tebey Ottoh, Adam Doleac, Jeremy Bussey)
20. “Bad Beer” feat. Matt Stell (Taylor Phillips, Jay Brunswick, James Greylan, Jody Scott Stevens)
21. “My Town” feat. Josh Mirenda (Brock Berryhill, George Birge, Tommy Cecil, Evan Coffman, Cody Cooper)
22. “Country As Truck” (Derek George, Monty Criswell, Ricky Young, Taylor Phillips)
23. “Slow Ride” (GVTSBY Remix) (Colt Ford, Taylor Phillips, Josh Mirenda, Jared Sciullo, Justin David Bertoldie)
24. “In The End” feat. Josh Mirenda (Chester Bennington, Robert Bourdon, Brad Delson, Joseph Hahn, Mike Shinoda)
In addition to releasing his highly anticipated album, Ford is embarking on a North American tour, treating fans to an unforgettable live experience with over 40 captivating shows spanning the United States. The Must Be The Country Tour promises an exciting lineup of destinations, including Nashville, Flagstaff, Virginia Beach, Chico, and numerous other cities, with more dates soon to be revealed.
Must Be The Country Tour Dates:
5/19 – Winchester, Calif. @ Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival
5/20 – Sparks, Nev. @ The Ranch House
5/21 – Flagstaff, Ariz. @ Orpheum Theater
5/26 – Branford, Fla. @ Ellie Ray’s RV Resort
5/27 – Fortville, Ind. @ Vogel Estate
6/1 – Sioux Falls, N.D. @ Bigs Bar
6/2 – Menahga, Minn. @ Mid Summer Music Fest Gone Country 2023
6/3 – East Moline, Ill. @ The Rust Belt
6/9 – Brookville, Ind. @ Franklin County Fairgrounds
6/10 – Goldsboro, N.C. @ Busco Beach and ATV Park
6/16 – Cherokee, N.C. @ Harrah’s Cherokee Casino
6/17 – Rush, Ky. @ Rush and Rowdy 2023
6/22 – Lititz, Pa. @ Mickey’s Black Box
6/23 – Johnstown, Pa. @ Thunder In The Valley
6/24 – Horseheads, N.Y. @ The L
6/29 – Great Falls, Mont. @ The Newberry
6/30 – Idaho Falls, Idaho @ The Gem
7/1 – Post Falls, Idaho @ Stateline Speedway Stadium
7/3 – Ellensburg, Wash. @ Kittitas Valley Event Center
7/6 – Mchenry, Ill. @ The Vixen
7/7 – Oakwood, Ill. @ Exit 210 Saloon
7/8 – Ankeny, Iowa @ The District Venue
7/13 – Virginia Beach, Va. @ New Realm Brewing
7/14 – Roanoke, Va. @ Dr. Pepper Park at the Bridges
7/15 – Midlothian, Va. @ SERVPRO of Chesterfield
7/21 – Chickasha, Okla. @ Legends Pub House & Venue
7/22 – Oskaloosa, Iowa @ Southern Iowa Fair
7/28 – Rochester, Mich. @ The Roxy Rochester
7/29 – Maryville, Tenn. @ The Shed
8/1 – Springfield, Mo. @ Ozark Empire Fairgrounds
8/3 – Fayetteville, Ark. @ JJ’s LIVE
8/4 – Neligh, Neb. @ Antelope County Fair Board
8/9 – Grand Pass, Ore. @ Josephine County Fairgrounds
8/10 – Bend, Ore. @ Midtown Ballroom
8/11 – Chico, Calif. @ Tackle Box Bar & Grill
8/17 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Skydeck
8/18 – Douglas, Ga. @ The Martin Centre
8/19 – Russellville, Ala. @ Franklin County Watermelon Festival
9/2 – Marietta, Ga. @ Georgia Country Music Fest
9/9 – Puyallup, Wash. @ Washington State Fair
9/22 – New Haven, Ky. @ The Amp at Dant Crossing
9/23 – Garnett, Kan. @ Anderson County Corn Festival
For more information on Colt Ford, visit his website and follow his social media channels linked below.
Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | YouTube
About Colt Ford:
By 2019, country-rap icon Colt Ford built a series of staggering successes as he rose to mainstream notoriety. He notched five consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top Country Albums Chart with Declaration of Independence bowing at #1 in 2012. Two years later, Thanks for Listening ascended to the Top 10 of the Top 200, with the album reaching #1 on Billboard Rap & Independent charts. Meanwhile, he lobbed six songs onto the Hot Country Songs Chart with “Back” [feat. Jake Owen] going Top 40. Among many accolades, Ford received a nomination in the category of “Vocal Event of the Year” at the Academy of Country Music Awards for “Cold Beer” with Jamey Johnson. Ford’s new full-length album, Must Be The Country, includes 24 tracks with features from Dillon Carmichael, Brantley Gilbert, Matt Stell, Kevin Gates, Tracy Lawrence, Josh Mirenda, Tracy Byrd, and more. The project is now available on all major digital platforms via Average Joes Entertainment.