Ronnie McDowell gave the country music world one heck of a scare back in June when he suffered a stroke onstage while performing at a music festival in Pennsylvania.

The 75-year-old recently underwent a procedure to clear plaque from an artery in his neck, but even before the procedure he was already back out and performing. It has been clear that he is one tough dude, but in a recent interview with Taste of Country he revealed what saved his life . McDowell said doctors in Pennsylvania allowed him to leave the hospital there and go home to arrange a surgery because of it, too.

“(The doctor) said, ‘I’m gonna let you go home, and let me tell you why,” he told Taste of Country.

“I’ve been doing this 30-something years,” he said the doctor continued. “I listened to your heart, and yo

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