Rory Feek is a singer-songwriter, filmmaker and author who rose to prominence as a member of the singing duo Joey + Rory with his wife Joey.
After his wife Joey dies of cancer, country artist Rory Feek raises his daughter Indiana, who has Down syndrome, on their farm. Rory and Indiana feel a great connection to Joey even though she is no longer with them and often attends her funeral. The musician created a school for his daughter so that she could develop normally after her death.
Rory Feek, who was born in 1965, has made a name for himself as a writer, director and singer-songwriter. Apart from enjoying a happy marriage, she and Joey Feek had a flourishing romantic and professional relationship after their marriage in 2002.
Rory and Joey had solo careers before appearing on Country Music Television’s “Can You Duet.” Buoyed by their management, the pair performed brilliantly on the show, finishing third out of eight finalists.
As a result of their serial collaboration, they formed the singing duo Joey + Rory and signed a recording contract with Sugar Hill Records.
Two years later, the singing duo reached a major professional milestone when their debut album “The Life of a Song” won Top New Vocal Duo of the Year at the 2010 ACM Awards. They were also nominated for Best Vocal Duo and Best New Artist.
Other nominations for Joey + Rory include Vocal Duo of the Year at the 2016 ACM Awards and two CMA Awards. At the 2016 Grammy Awards, their song “When I’m Gone” was also nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Apart from the accolades, their albums and songs often topped the charts. The pair’s albums “Album Number Two” and “The Life of a Song” both reached the Top 10 on the Country Chart, while “When I’m Gone” and “Cheater, Cheater” reached the Top 30.
Being a single parent in Indiana after his wife died of cancer presented the same difficulties for Rory. After receiving a diagnosis of cervical cancer in 2014, Joey underwent an emergency radical hysterectomy to treat the disease.
One of their biggest successes was when their album “Hymns That Are Important to Us” topped both the Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums charts.
Rory led a happy life with his family thanks to his perseverance, talent and hard work. His net worth is $3 million, according to Yahoo.
In the midst of their advancing careers, Joey and Rory welcomed Indiana Feek into the world on February 17, 2014. Indiana was diagnosed with Down syndrome at a young age. She was born in Columbia, Tennessee. The adoring father explained that his daughter just needed love, just like everyone else.
Rory is also raising Hopie and Heidi, his daughters from his former marriage to Tamara Gilmer. After their parents divorced in 1992, Rory raised Hoppy and Heidi alone until they were adults.
She ended up receiving hospice care over the past few months and spent those months with her family on special occasions such as Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day and their daughter’s second birthday.
Unfortunately, Rory had to deal with the same difficulties as a single parent after his wife died of cancer. After receiving a diagnosis of cervical cancer in 2014, Joey underwent an emergency radical hysterectomy to treat the disease. Despite knowing their odds, Joey and Rory trusted God’s plan.
The couple, who had just started a family with their daughter, underwent heavy treatment that included chemotherapy and radiation. Rory soon shaved off his wife’s hair because his therapy was causing it to fall out. Three sisters, a father and a niece who were also balding offered Joey support.
Rory’s older daughters were present when her hair was cut, supporting their stepmother in her struggles. Our older children, still present, sat at Joey’s feet in the middle of the living room and held her hands as I took the scissors she was using to cut my hair and did as she asked. Rory recounted.
Unfortunately, Joey’s life was marked by chronology as the disease spread rapidly. She ended up receiving hospice care over the past few months and spent those months with her family on special occasions such as Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day and their daughter’s second birthday.
Joey revealed that she was ready to join her creator if the time came during a series of serious talks the two had about the breakup.
Joey seemed to say everything as she prepared her family for life without her, but it was never easy to let go. At the age of 40, Joey lost her battle with cancer on March 4, 2016. Rory wrote on his blog at the time:
“Today my wife’s greatest wish came true. She is in heaven. The cancer is gone. All her tears have dried up and the pain has stopped.”
On the farm taking care of her daughter
Rory, who is raising their daughter in Columbia, Tennessee, feels her wife’s presence even after her death. The musician openly displays his wedding band because he considers his union to be traditional. He said, “He’s still wearing his.”
Since then, Indiana has joined classes in the school building with other children from their neighborhood. Rory said the first day he took his daughter to school alone was something he never expected.
Rory claims that even though he cannot see his late wife, he still feels fulfilled in the bond. He believes that Joey brought happiness into his life, and she continues to do so despite her absence.
Rory admitted in 2020 that he didn’t envision himself dating again, although he would accept it if it was God’s will. He used to be obsessed with raising his daughter in a supportive environment.
Since Joey died, Rory has taken on the responsibility of raising their daughter alone. He claimed that his experiences raising Indiana were comparable to those he had with his older children. Rory wants his child to grow up in a typical environment on their 100-acre farm, Hardison Mill.
A devoted father, they established their farm to serve as the foundation of a community that includes a house, school, symphony hall, restaurant and bakery. Rory modeled the farm school after a Kentucky schoolhouse he and his daughter visited in 1892.
Since then, Indiana has joined classes in the school building with other children from their neighborhood. Rory said the first day he took his daughter to school alone was something he never expected.
When Rory’s wife could no longer raise their daughter at home, he got the idea to build a school on the farm as a backup plan. Despite Joey’s death, Rory fulfilled her wish to homeschool their child, which had always been her goal.
His realization of the plan to build the school contributed to Indiana receiving the best possible education. He acknowledged the bills and checks his followers sent him in condolence letters after Joey’s death. He financed the business with the money. His child has had plenty of opportunities so far because of her education. Rory says
“Indiana’s smile lights up not just a room, but the globe.”
In addition to what she learns in the classroom, Indiana is aware of the environment around her and knows how to grow food, live in a community, and be a decent person. On one large farm, this joyful community often interacts through activities.
Despite everything he’s been through, Rory appreciates those in his life and considers himself lucky to have a beautiful child.
Fortunately, Indiana has a lot of support from Rory’s family. His two daughters live nearby, while his sisters have moved to their property. “Little girls usually have a mother. Indiana is home to a lot of mothers,” he added.
Although Joey will never be replaced, Rory will always be grateful for the ladies who help him be a better father to Indiana. Without being asked, his sisters and daughters help in big and small ways.
Surrounded by so much love and support from her family and other relatives, Rory said: “I think it’s amazing.”
With the debut of new music and a TV show, Rory has found success in his work as well. He still thinks of his wife often and honored her by building Marcy Jo’s Muletown on their farm.
Despite everything he’s been through, Rory is grateful for everyone in his life and considers himself lucky to have a beautiful daughter who is kind and compassionate to others.
He said, “I used to stare at Joey and wonder how on earth I got so lucky. Now he’s staring at Indiana and wonders, ‘How on earth could I have been so blessed to be one with such a gorgeous, sweet, amazing little one?’ ,” just like he did with Joey.
In 2019, Rory reflected on the life he created on his farm and outlined the process from start to present. In an Instagram post, he revealed that they moved into the mansion on Memorial Day 1999 with hammers and dreams.
A father and daughter couple went to a church event in their barn in 2021 and went to the cemetery to see where Joey was buried. In addition to the handwritten note she created in class, Indiana brought flowers.
At the moment, he had no idea about the future, but he trusted God’s plan for him and his family. Family and friends who eventually became family joined their group and provided constant support as time went on.
In his last post, Rory thanked everyone who contributed to the success of the farm and the creation of a beautiful community.
The “Gentleman” singer often posts on Instagram to promote events and performances at their estate, as well as to share snippets of his life on the farm with Indiana. Rory has a huge following of nearly 700,000 followers at the time of writing.
His daughter is still able to remember her mother.
While Indiana was only a toddler when Joey died, her father raises their daughter to honor her mother’s memory. With her family, Joey celebrated her first Mother’s Day in 2014 and her last in 2015.
In the following years, Rory and Indiana continued to celebrate Mother’s Day, but without Joey. A father and daughter couple went to a church event in their barn in 2021 and went to the cemetery to see where Joey was buried. Indiana arrived with flowers and a note she had written in class.
Even more unusual was Indiana’s heart-shaped letter, which had a picture of Joey and her daughter in the middle. She signed the note, “I miss you.”
Her daughter recognized Joey’s voice the moment she started singing on the radio. Mother, she announced. According to Rory’s memory, no one heard Joey’s voice and it took him a while to realize that their music was playing.
Rory claims that he and his daughter still feel Joey around. He added: “I think her mom knows that, even though Indy can’t see her in person or express how much she loves her.
Despite Joey’s death, Rory feels her presence and proudly wears his wedding ring. He was committed to raising Indiana in a loving community and has no plans to date again.