District 142

Colt Ford consistently blazes his own trail. By doing so, the Georgia singer, songwriter, rapper, musician, performer, and co-founder and co-owner of Average Joes Entertainment keeps up pace as country’s preeminent independent maverick.

By 2019, Colt 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.

Selling over 3 million albums, attracting millions of followers on social media and hitting 1 billion-plus streams, the country rap pioneer’s dynamic discography spans collaborations with everyone from Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Jermaine Dupri to members of No Doubt, Lit, and Lady Antebellum. Additionally, he co-wrote Jason Aldean’s #1 hit “Dirt Road Anthem” and Brantley Gilbert’s #1 hit “Country Must Be Country Wide” as a behind-the-scenes force in the studio. Moreover, Ford’s solo tradition of genre-blurring continued on Love Hope Faith in 2017 by way of cuts such as “Reload” [feat. Taylor Ray Holbrook], his We The People, Volume 1 album and on into his Keys to the Country EP in 2021 with Kevin Gates, RVSHVD and more.

The dynamic Keys to the Country EP was produced by Noah Gordon and Colt Ford, with Shannon Houchins serving as Co-Producer (Colt and Shannon co-own Average Joes Entertainment). In between a marathon tour schedule, they recorded at Colt’s studio in Nashville. Throughout the process, the star pushed himself like never before, maintaining the hallmarks of his signature style, charting new territory, and hitting his most prolific stride to date alongside rapper, Kevin Gates in their well received track, “Hood” with Jermaine Dupri.
On the Keys to the Country EP, Ford continues to evolve his artistry and—as only he can—amp things up even further.
Fittingly, he introduces the EP with the first single “When Country Comes Back,” as the world was ending a near global shutdown.

“The Keys to the Country EP is really me,” he elaborates. “So much of my success is a result of the fact that I am my songs. You’re getting me in the lyrics! I don’t have chauffeurs, ten sports cars, or my own jet. That’s all cool, but I’m just Colt Ford. It’s relatable.”

Ford continued to blur the lines of what country rap with “Hood” featuring world renowned rapper, Kevin Gates, and Jermaine Dupri. At heart, it’s a song about unification—no matter race, color, or religious affiliation. Music has a way of bringing people together, and that’s the exact message in this song.

Overall, the EP doubles as a soundtrack for positivity and living life to the fullest for these times. Of course, Ford preserves the right amount of grit and wit to liven and light up any party as his blend of Southern rock, modern country, and rap remains downright unbeatable. Alongside guests such as Vince Gill [“Keys to the Country”], Josh Mirenda [“My Town”], Matt Stell [“Bad Beer“], and more, his lead vocals and raps remain as robust and uniformly strong as ever. Nevertheless, “If I Didn’t Know Better” featuring Jana Kramer marks an emotional high watermark for the Keys to the Country EP. This vulnerable, vibrant, and vital ballad illuminates Ford’s impressive range as he carries a heart-wrenching hook to the heavens and back.
“I have to say ‘If I Didn’t Know Better’ is a real, true, and defining moment for me,” he admits. “It’s how I sing and where I feel good at. It’s a straight-up country power ballad that honestly every man in the world should listen to and realize what mistakes not to make. It changed a lot for me. Having Jana Kramer on the track was just icing on the cake. She is an incredible singer and fun to work with.”
As Ford kicks off his next powerful chapter, he holds nothing back on the Keys to the Country EP.

“Listen to these tracks…you’ll know exactly who I am,” he leaves off. “Colt Ford is about God, family, friends, and America. I’m just a guy who loves life. I love people. I love knowing I could make a difference in somebody else’s life with a song. I hope you walk away with a smile on your face. I poured my heart and soul into this one. This ain’t a hobby. It’s life. The fans are the reason I’m here. I’m going to keep doing it for them. I feel like the luckiest man on planet earth, so I’m not stopping,” he laughs.

Country music’s rising Outlaw Country star, Creed Fisher reminds fans to never lose sight of who you are, where you're from, and never be afraid of working hard to earn an honest living on his latest musical manifesto This Ain’t the Hamptons.

“I know I say it often but this album is truly some of my best work to date,” he proclaims of the brand new collection. This much anticipated follow up to 2022’s Rebel in the South is timed perfectly for country music consumers who are seeking that repopularized sounds of Outlaw and Traditional Country. The album has its own distinguished Red Dirt vibes. “I’ve never been this excited to drop a country album honestly.”

“It definitely has a bit more country rock sprinkled in than my recent two albums, Whiskey and the Dog and Rebel in the South, which consisted of honky tonk, twang,” Fisher says of the vibe. “On this album, the country tunes range from country rock to traditional country, out to outlaw country.” Put another way, he explains, “This Ain;’t the Hamptons definitely has everything from a Hank Williams vibe out to the edgier rock feel that's similar to what you would expect from Kid Rock.”

Along with celebrating blue collar sensibilities, patriotism and fun-loving simple pleasures that are staples of Fisher’s music, this record comes at a time where country music consumers' interests in bringing back the foundational roots of traditional country music are at an all time high. Timing is everything, and Fisher declares “This was the perfect album for true country music fans that miss that less modernized sound of old country music. If I’d said it three or four albums ago - they wouldn’t have heard it.” He’s confident the music and messages on This Ain’t the Hamptons will connect with the majority of Americans, but especially those who love country music and live the lifestyle. “They’re gonna love to hear this one.”

Fisher also promises thematic diversity across the album’s fourteen tracks. “It’s got something for everybody.” He cites songs like “One of ‘Em” and “Lowdown & Lonesome” covering everything from odes for the blue collar Americans and revealing the good, bad and unfortunately truths of being a full time touring artist. The album also gives the Creed Fisher name a face lift as he levels up his branding and marketing, putting his permanent stamp onto the industry as the newest up and coming country music star.. Fisher credits the whole tone of This Aint the Hamptons originating with the song “One of ‘Em,” which is the first single. “My buddy Nate Kenyon pitched me this song and after listening, I made some tweaks to the lyrics and knew immediately, ‘Man this one has to make the cut for this album!’ Everything came together into a production that exceeded even his own highest expectations. “I’ve never been this excited to drop an album,” and confidently points to a particular song that will be a shooting star, the third single to be released from This Ain’t the Hamptons. “Lowdown & Lonesome”, which he predicts will be one of his fans' favorites on the album.”

“I think we went to the next level and people are going to feel the same way. We’re trying to make sure everything we put out is badass.” Creed Fisher’s This Ain’t the Hamptons pre-orders launched June 26th and the album is set to release September 8th, partners with a nationwide tour for the remainder of this year. Never one to stay motionless, Fisher is already working on follow up albums of new material, reboots of older material and even a little surprise for his fans around the holidays. Yes, you heard that right!