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Tag: Joey and Rory

  • Rory Feek Shares Bittersweet Video of Joey Feek’s Public Memorial Service

    Rory Feek Shares Bittersweet Video of Joey Feek’s Public Memorial Service

    Rory Feek shared some bittersweet memories of the public memorial service celebrating the life of his late wife, Joey Feek, in her hometown of Alexandria, Indiana last Sunday. He captured the laughter and the tears on his blog, This Life I Live, on Friday.

    “We took one final tour-bus ride home. To Joey’s town. To grieve with and celebrate with the people in her community. And to lift up one of their own with tears and joy and songs and speeches,” Rory wrote.

    “In the Alexandria High School gymnasium–the same place where Joey had played basketball and volleyball and cheered for her home team–a few thousand people gathered together in her honor. But this time, the cheers were all for her.”

    Rory Feek explained that while two-year-old daughter Indiana napped following their drive from Tennessee, he sat on the floor of the Joey + Rory tour bus and jotted down a few things we wanted to make sure to say at Joey’s memorial.

    “A few minutes before, as Indy was still napping, I sat in the back hallway of the bus and did my best to come up with a few words to say…to thank this town and to lift up my beautiful bride and this community,” Rory penned.

    “Bill and Gloria Gaither hosted the celebration and they and a number of family and friends came up one by one to speak. Joey’s mother and father sang a hymn and shared a few words from their hearts. Her sister Jody talked about being by our side as Joey’s caregiver for the last few months and how Joey has impacted her as a woman and mother. And hometown-hero Carl Erskine, who pitched for the Dodgers in 40’s and 50’s played his harmonica and shared wisdom about raising a child with Down Syndrome with me. Joey’s high school coach Mr Howell even gave me a letter jacket from the high school with Joey’s name on it. An honor that is especially meaningful to a man who’s favorite movie is ‘Hoosiers’ and never lived in one town long enough to play sports or get the chance to try to earn one on his own,” he added.

    Following Rory Feek’s turn to speak at Joey’s memorial, he and Indy watched a video featuring Joey Feek.

    “It was hard and beautiful to watch at the same time,” Rory shared.

    “The whole day was so special. Thank you to everyone who was there and to everyone who wished they could be there with us. Like me, I know my wife would’ve found a way to see the beauty in this sad day,” Rory added.

    Bill Gaither provided Rory Feek with a short video excerpt of Joey Feek’s public memorial, so he could share it with those who read his blog.

    Last Sunday’s public memorial service for the Joey + Rory singer was the final service for Joey Feek. Rory Feek, family members, and close friends celebrated her life at a private funeral on their Tennessee farm on the Tuesday before. Joey was buried afterward in the small family cemetery on the farm.

    Now it’s time for Rory Feek to start figuring out how to move forward–as a single dad to little Indiana, and as a husband without his beloved wife. Indy won’t leave his side in the days since she lost her mother. That’s to be expected, though.

    There are no doubt countless people who are praying for Rory Feek to find his way–a new way.

    He’ll put the pieces of a new life together. He knows Joey is watching him, and expecting him to do exactly that.

  • Rory Feek Shares Poignant Memories, Video of Joey Feek’s Public Memorial Service

    Rory Feek Shares Poignant Memories, Video of Joey Feek’s Public Memorial Service

    Rory Feek shared poignant memories of the memorial service celebrating the life of his late wife, Joey Feek, in her hometown of Alexandria, Indiana on Sunday, on his blog, This Life I Live on Friday.

    “We took one final tour-bus ride home. To Joey’s town. To grieve with and celebrate with the people in her community. And to lift up one of their own with tears and joy and songs and speeches,” Rory wrote.

    “In the Alexandria High School gymnasium–the same place where Joey had played basketball and volleyball and cheered for her home team–a few thousand people gathered together in her honor. But this time, the cheers were all for her.”

    Rory Feek explained that while two-year-old daughter Indiana napped following their drive from Tennessee, he sat on the floor of the Joey + Rory tour bus and jotted down a few things we wanted to say at Joey’s memorial.

    “A few minutes before, as Indy was still napping, I sat in the back hallway of the bus and did my best to come up with a few words to say…to thank this town and to lift up my beautiful bride and this community,” Rory penned.

    “Bill and Gloria Gaither hosted the celebration and they and a number of family and friends came up one by one to speak. Joey’s mother and father sang a hymn and shared a few words from their hearts. Her sister Jody talked about being by our side as Joey’s caregiver for the last few months and how Joey has impacted her as a woman and mother. And hometown-hero Carl Erskine, who pitched for the Dodgers in 40’s and 50’s played his harmonica and shared wisdom about raising a child with Down Syndrome with me. Joey’s high school coach Mr Howell even gave me a letter jacket from the high school with Joey’s name on it. An honor that is especially meaningful to a man who’s favorite movie is ‘Hoosiers’ and never lived in one town long enough to play sports or get the chance to try to earn one on his own,” he added.

    Following Rory Feek’s turn to speak at Joey’s memorial, he and Indy watched a video featuring Joey Feek.

    “It was hard and beautiful to watch at the same time,” he shared.

    “The whole day was so special. Thank you to everyone who was there and to everyone who wished they could be there with us. Like me, I know my wife would’ve found a way to see the beauty in this sad day,” Rory added.

    Bill Gaither gave Rory Feek a short excerpt of Joey’s memorial to share on his blog.

    Sunday’s memorial service for the Joey + Rory singer was the final service for Joey Feek. Rory Feek, family members, and close friends celebrated her life at a private funeral on their Tennessee farm on the Tuesday before. Joey was buried afterward in the small family cemetery on the farm.

    Now that the services are over, Rory Feek can start figuring out how to move forward–as a single dad to little Indiana, and as a husband without his beloved wife. Surely countless people are praying for Rory Feek to find his way.

  • Rory Feek Pictured Grieving at Joey Feek’s Grave, Details on Joey + Rory Singer’s Funeral and Burial

    Rory Feek is seen grieving at the grave of his beloved wife, Joey Feek, in a sorrowful photo shared on his blog, This Life I Live.

    Following the funeral for the Joey + Rory singer on Tuesday, Rory Feek took to his blog to express a plethora of emotions, as well as to share several photos from the simple, private service for his precious Joey that was held on their farm.

    “On Tuesday we laid my beautiful wife to rest,” Rory Feek writes. “In a grove of sassafras trees behind our farmhouse, with friends and family gathered around, we said goodbye to the greatest person I have ever known.”

    “The service started in our barn/concert hall. The last time we were on that stage, was in early October and Joey and I were singing together. But now, a photograph of Joey was in the spotlight…and I was one of many who were there to honor her,” he continues.

    Rory Feek goes on to detail the several close friends and family members who either spoke or sang in honor of Joey. He then describes how he felt when it was his turn to share his thoughts.

    “When it came my time to speak, I walked up on the stage and stood looking at my wife’s sweet picture…and words were not enough to let her know how much she meant to me–how much she still means to me,” Rory writes.

    Rory Feek posted a photo on his blog of that sweet picture, as he bent down to gently place a kiss on his late wife’s likeness.

    “And when my time was through and I thought I couldn’t cry anymore tears…they played a video celebrating Joey’s life that our friends Daniel and Gabe made. And my tears were replaced by smiles and laughter and joy and more tears,” Rory pens. “It was so beautiful, set to the song “After You’re Gone” by Iris Dement…a song that Joey loved and requested be played at her service.”

    “Joey’s one hope was that she could “come home” on a beautiful day…and it oh, it was.” Rory Feek shares. “The daffodils were blooming, the grass was green and sky was bright blue.”

    Rory then shared about the walk from the barn to the small cemetery plot out back, where members of his family are laid to rest, and where the ground was prepared ahead of time for Joey Feek’s simple wooden box.

    That simple box was transported to the gravesite by an “1800s wagon” pulled by two mules. He tells how “eight angelic voices” singing “Down by the River to Pray” for the duration of the walk.

    Two-year-old Indiana Feek rode to her mother’s gravesite on her daddy’s strong shoulders.

    Rory Feek describes the afternoon following Joey’s funeral, too. It was filled with loved ones and memories of Joey Feek. Family and friends gathered near the garden she so loved and shared memories evoking both laughter and tears.

    When everyone left that afternoon, Rory describes how he and little Indy took another walk to Joey Feek’s grave. A heart-rending photo shows him solemnly standing over her flower-laden gravesite.

    “And when most of the guest had gone and the sun was starting to fade, Indy and I took the short walk together into the back field to see her mama one more time,” he writes. “And we stayed awhile and talked with her.”

    “And then we took a deep breath and did what Joey would want us to do,” he adds. “We remembered that she’s still with us. She’ll always be with us. In our hearts.”

    “Forever,” Rory Feek concludes, sharing photos of him with a lauging Indy riding on his shoulders, away from Joey’s grave and on to the new life they must now make without their wife and mother.

  • Joey Feek Lies in Grave on Farm She and Rory Feek Shared

    Joey Feek was laid to rest on Tuesday. She lies buried in a grave on the farm she and husband Rory Feek shared.

    On his blog, This Life I Live, Rory shares the details of Joey Feek’s funeral and burial, as well as how he and two-year-old daughter Indiana plan to move forward.

    “On Tuesday we laid my beautiful wife to rest,” the surviving member of the country bluegrass duo Joey + Rory writes. “In a grove of sassafras trees behind our farmhouse, with friends and family gathered around, we said goodbye to the greatest person I have ever known.”

    “The service started in our barn/concert hall. The last time we were on that stage, was in early October and Joey and I were singing together. But now, a photograph of Joey was in the spotlight…and I was one of many who were there to honor her,” he continues.

    Rory goes on to mention several close friends and family members who spoke or sang in honor of Joey Feek, and then talks about his feelings as his turn to speak arrived.

    “When it came my time to speak, I walked up on the stage and stood looking at my wife’s sweet picture…and words were not enough to let her know how much she meant to me–how much she still means to me,” Rory writes.

    Rory posted a photo on his blog of a photo of Joey Feek, with him bending down to kiss her likeness.

    “And when my time was through and I thought I couldn’t cry anymore tears…they played a video celebrating Joey’s life that our friends Daniel and Gabe made. And my tears were replaced by smiles and laughter and joy and more tears,” Rory pens. “It was so beautiful, set to the song “After You’re Gone” by Iris Dement…a song that Joey loved and requested be played at her service.”

    “Joey’s one hope was that she could “come home” on a beautiful day…and it oh, it was.” Rory Feek shares. “The daffodils were blooming, the grass was green and sky was bright blue.”

    Joey Feek was laid in a “simple wooden box,” per her wishes. Rory explains she was transported from the funeral to the burial site on an “1800’s wagon” pulled by mules.

    “Angelic voices” sang “Down by the River to Pray” as everyone walked alongside the wagon on their way to bury Joey. Indiana rode on her daddy’s shoulders.

    Later, when all the friends and family members left, Rory describes how he and little Indy took another walk to Joey Feek’s grave. A heart-rending photo shows him solemnly standing over her flower-laden gravesite–his head bowed in prayer.

    “And when most of the guest had gone and the sun was starting to fade, Indy and I took the short walk together into the back field to see her mama one more time,” he writes. “And we stayed awhile and talked with her.”

    “And then we took a deep breath and did what Joey would want us to do,” he adds. “We remembered that she’s still with us. She’ll always be with us. In our hearts.”

    “Forever,” Rory Feek concludes, sharing photos of him with a smiling Indy riding on his shoulders, away from Joey Feek’s grave and home to start their new life without her.

    A memorial service was held on Sunday in Joey Feek’s hometown in Indiana. Hosted by Bill and Gloria Gaither, it was expected that Rory would speak at the memorial that was open to the public.

  • Rory Feek Grieves at Joey Feek’s Grave in Heart-Rending Photo

    Rory Feek is seen grieving at the grave of his beloved wife, Joey Feek, in a heart-rending photo shared on his blog, This Life I Live.

    Following Joey’s funeral on Tuesday, Rory Feek took to his blog to express a wealth of emotions, and to share several photos from the simple, private service that was held on their farm.

    “On Tuesday we laid my beautiful wife to rest,” the surviving member of the country bluegrass duo Joey + Rory writes. “In a grove of sassafras trees behind our farmhouse, with friends and family gathered around, we said goodbye to the greatest person I have ever known.”

    “The service started in our barn/concert hall. The last time we were on that stage, was in early October and Joey and I were singing together. But now, a photograph of Joey was in the spotlight…and I was one of many who were there to honor her,” he continues.

    Rory Feek goes on to mention several close friends and family members who spoke or sang in honor of Joey Feek, and then describes how he felt as his turn to speak arrived.

    “When it came my time to speak, I walked up on the stage and stood looking at my wife’s sweet picture…and words were not enough to let her know how much she meant to me–how much she still means to me,” Rory writes.

    Rory Feek posted a photo on his blog that shows him kissing a photo of his precious Joey.

    “And when my time was through and I thought I couldn’t cry anymore tears…they played a video celebrating Joey’s life that our friends Daniel and Gabe made. And my tears were replaced by smiles and laughter and joy and more tears,” Rory pens. “It was so beautiful, set to the song “After You’re Gone” by Iris Dement…a song that Joey loved and requested be played at her service.”

    “Joey’s one hope was that she could “come home” on a beautiful day…and it oh, it was.” Rory Feek shares. “The daffodils were blooming, the grass was green and sky was bright blue.”

    No doubt through many tears, Rory goes on to write about the trip–on foot–from the barn to Joey Feek’s gravesite.

    The singer/songwriter describes Joey Feek’s “simple wooden box,” and how it was transported to her grave on an “1800’s wagon” pulled by mules, accompanied by “eight angelic voices” singing “Down by the River to Pray” throughout the walk.

    Two-year-old Indiana Feek rode to her mother’s grave on her daddy’s shoulders.

    Rory Feek describes the afternoon following Joey’s funeral. It was filled with loved ones and memories of Joey Feek. Family and friends gathered near the garden she loved and shared both laughter and tears.

    Later, when everyone left, Rory Feek describes how he and little Indy took another walk to Joey Feek’s grave. A heart-rending photo shows him solemnly standing over her flower-laden gravesite.

    “And when most of the guest had gone and the sun was starting to fade, Indy and I took the short walk together into the back field to see her mama one more time,” he writes. “And we stayed awhile and talked with her.”

    “And then we took a deep breath and did what Joey would want us to do,” he adds. “We remembered that she’s still with us. She’ll always be with us. In our hearts.”

    “Forever,” Rory Feek concludes, sharing photos of him with a smiling Indy riding on his shoulders, away from Joey’s grave and on to the rest of their lives without her.

  • Rory Feek, Joey + Rory Singer, Lays Joey Feek to Rest on Family Farm

    Rory Feek, the surviving member of the country/bluegrass duo Joey + Rory, laid wife Rory Feek to rest on Tuesday morning at their farm in Maury County, Tennessee.

    Joey Feek died on Friday at her childhood home in Alabama. Rory Feek shared word of her passing via his blog, This Life I Live.

    “My wife’s greatest dream came true today,” Rory Feek wrote. “She is in Heaven. The cancer is gone, the pain has ceased and all her tears are dry. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her Savior.”

    The day after Joey died, Rory Feek and their two-year-old daughter Indiana returned to their farm in Tennessee to prepare for Joey’s funeral.

    …making plans that I hoped we would never have to make.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    Rory Feek, family members, and very close friends said goodbye to Joey Feek at the farm on Tuesday morning, after which she was buried in a family cemetery located on the farm.

    A public memorial service for Joey Feek will be held on Sunday in Indiana. It is being hosted by Bill and Gloria Gaither. It’s uncertain if Rory Feek will travel back to Indiana to attend the memorial.

    Rory Feek has a long road ahead of him. He will now raise little Indy as a single dad. Indiana Feek has Down syndrome, which comes with a wealth of complications for some people. It’s unknown if Indiana has many–or any–of those common health issues.

    Rory Feek and his late wife shared a very strong Christian faith that carried them both through Joey Feek’s cancer ordeal. Rory will now rely on that faith to see him through the difficult days ahead.

  • Joey Feek: Public Memorial Service Hosted by Bill and Gloria Gaither Scheduled for Sunday

    Joey Feek, one-half of the country/bluegrass duo known as Joey + Rory, passed away on Friday after battling cancer since 2014. Although her funeral will be private, with burial on her and husband Rory Feek’s Tennessee farm, a public memorial service is scheduled for Sunday in Indiana.

    Bill and Gloria Gaither of Gaither Gospel Hour fame are hosting a memorial service to celebrate Joey Feek’s life. It is scheduled for Sunday, March 13 at the Alexandria-Monroe High School gymnasium in her hometown of Alexandria, Indiana at 2:30 p.m.

    “Joey was one of a kind,” Bill Gaither says in a press release. “We all will miss that sweet, transparent spirit.”

    The Gaithers live in the same town where Joey Feek grew up. Joey and Rory Feek’s last album, “Hymns That Are Important to Us,” that came out just a couple of weeks before Joey Feek died, was released via the Gaither label.

    Joey Feek’s husband, Rory, and daughter, Indiana, returned to their farm in Tennessee the day after Joey passed away. Rory is preparing to bury his beloved Joey in a family cemetery on the farm.

    “…making plans that I hoped we would never have to make,” Rory Feek captioned the following Instagram photo.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    Fans who want to pay their respects to the late Joey Feek will no doubt be happy to learn of the memorial service planned and hosted by Bill and Gloria Gaither. It is open to the public.

  • Rory Feek Chooses Spot on Tennessee Farm to Bury Wife Joey Feek

    Rory Feek returned to his Tennessee farm, along with two-year-old daughter Indiana, in the hours following wife Joey Feek’s death on Friday.

    Since then he has worked tirelessly to put together the plans Joey Feek discussed with him in her final days.

    On Sunday, Rory Feek shared a photo of his farm on Instagram, that shows the small cemetery on his property. That’s where Joey wanted him to bury her when she “went home” to Heaven.

    “…making plans that I hoped we would never have to make,” Rory captioned the photo.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    It was back in November that Rory Feek wrote about what Joey told him regarding her wishes, on his blog, This Life I Live.

    Joey Feek wanted a “rough-cut wooden box with a cross on it” made from “wood at the farm.”

    “And find a good spot in the family cemetery in the field behind our house, where we put your mama’s ashes last year,” Rory said Joey told him. “[Leave] room enough beside my headstone for you to join me someday… in God’s time.”

    The Joey + Rory singer made her husband take notes regarding her wishes, about everything from her funeral plans to which flowers to plant in their gardens in the spring.

    Rory Feek broke his silence on social media on Saturday, when he and Indy arrived at their Tennessee farm.

    “Home,” he captioned the photo.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    Joey Feek’s obituary is poignant, and makes fans wonder if she had a hand in writing that, too.

    Rory Feek and his family will celebrate Joey’s life in a private funeral. Those wanting to remember Joey in a special way may send a contribution to the following address:

    Joey and Indy
    P.O. Box 5471
    Vancouver, WA 98668

    People from all over the country–both celebrities in the music world and Joey + Rory fans–are grieving right along with Rory Feek over the loss of his beloved Joey.

  • Joey Feek Obituary Published, Funeral Plans Announced–Joey + Rory Singer to Be Laid to Rest On Tennessee Farm

    Joey Feek, one-half of the Joey + Rory Grammy-nominated country/bluegrass duo, died on Friday at the age of 40. As per her wishes, she will be buried on the farm she and husband Rory Feek own in Tennessee.

    Fans may read and sign a guest book via her obituary.

    On the day of Joey’s passing, Rory Feek wrote in his blog, This Life I Live, that he would soon pack up daughter Indiana and head back to the farm. Joey Feek lived out her last months in hospice care at her childhood home in Indiana.

    “So if it’s okay, I’m gonna close, wipe my tears and pack our bags to hit the road headed south. She’s already got a head-start on me,” Rory wrote on the day Joey died.

    Earlier in his post he shared word of his beloved Joey Feek’s passing.

    “My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven,” he wrote through his tears.

    “The cancer is gone, the pain has ceased and all her tears are dry. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her savior,” he added.

    “At 2:30 this afternoon, as we were gathered around her, holding hands and praying.. my precious bride breathed her last. And a moment later took her first breath on the other side.”

    Joey Feek’s life will be celebrated in a private funeral. That means fans will have to find another way to say goodbye to and honor the Joey + Rory singer.

    Any fans who would like to remember Joey Feek in a special way are urged to send a small donation to the following address:

    Joey and Indy
    P.O. Box 5471
    Vancouver, WA 98668

    Rory Feek has returned to the couple’s Tennessee farm along with daughter Indiana. He captioned a photo of him with Indy that perfectly depicts how Joey Feek felt about dying, and how she felt about Rory following her wishes.

    “Home,” it is captioned.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    In the coming days, Joey Feek’s body will be buried at that home, in a simple wooden box.

  • Blake Shelton Shares Sadness Over Joey Feek’s Death

    Blake Shelton was among many celebrities in the country music world to share his sadness over Joey Feek’s passing via social media in recent days.

    Joey Feek died on Friday after battling cancer for two years. She and husband Rory Feek made up the country/bluegrass duo Joey + Rory.

    Blake Shelton retweeted a Grand Ole Opry post confirming Joey Feek’s death.

    It wasn’t too long before Joey Feek died that Blake Shelton said he didn’t care about winning a Grammy Award, preferring to see Joey + Rory win for their song instead.

    It’s easy to see why Gwen Stefani loves Blake Shelton. Not all men are able to step outside of their own wants and needs in favor of another’s.

    Joey + Rory didn’t win a Grammy Award, but were thrilled with their song “If I Needed You” receiving a nomination. Joey Feek lived to watch this year’s Grammys on TV, which was a gift in itself.

    Blake Shelton has a new album that is soon to be released. After reviewing the tracks on his album, Gwen Stefani eagerly bragged about it on social media.

    Don’t you love that Blake Shelton isn’t afraid to show his emotions?

    Maybe those emotions will come through even louder and clearer on his new album.

  • Rory Feek, Daughter Indiana Return to Tennessee Farm in Wake of Joey Feek’s Passing

    Rory Feek, the remaining half of the country/bluegrass duo Joey + Rory, returned to his Tennessee farm this weekend, in the wake of wife Joey Feek’s passing. He and two-year-old daughter Indiana have a lot of healing to do in the coming weeks and months.

    Joey Feek passed away on Friday, following a nearly two-year battle with cancer. Rory Feek shared word of her death on his blog, This Life I Live.

    “My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven,” Rory wrote through his tears.

    “The cancer is gone, the pain has ceased and all her tears are dry. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her savior,” he added.

    “At 2:30 this afternoon, as we were gathered around her, holding hands and praying…my precious bride breathed her last. And a moment later took her first breath on the other side.”

    Toward the end of his post, Rory Feek wrote he and Indy would soon return home to Tennessee.

    “So if it’s okay, I’m gonna close, wipe my tears and pack our bags to hit the road headed south. She’s already got a head-start on me,” he penned.

    On Saturday, Rory Feek shared some photos via Instagram that show him and little Indy on their Tennessee farm.

    “Home,” he captioned this one.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    “Spring,” he captioned another shot of the farm.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    Rory Feek will soon lay his beloved Joey to rest on the farm they both loved. She told Rory in recent days that the flowers would soon bloom on the farm, and that meant it was time to go home.

    Joey Feek went home to Jesus. Rory Feek returned–without her–to their farm.

    Joey will be buried in a simple wooden box and buried on their farm. Funeral services will be private. Fans who wish to honor Joey and Rory in some way may contribute to the following:

    Joey and Indy
    P.O. Box 5471
    Vancouver, WA 98668

    Rory Feek wrote in the weeks prior to Joey’s passing that the music of Joey + Rory won’t go on without his wife. He claims he won’t sing again without his precious Joey.

    Maybe time on the farm with Indiana will soften his heart, and a song will once again take root there.

    Rory Feek believes Joey is now singing with the angels in Heaven. Hopefully one day he, too, will make music again.

  • Joey Feek, Joey + Rory Singer, Will Be Buried on Farm in Tennessee

    Joey Feek, one-half of the Joey + Rory Grammy-nominated country/bluegrass duo, passed away on Friday at the age of 40. As per her wishes, she will be buried on the farm she and husband Rory Feek own in Tennessee.

    On the day of Joey’s passing, Rory wrote in his blog, This Life I Live, that he would soon pack up daughter Indiana and head back to the farm. Joey Feek lived out her last months in hospice care at her childhood home in Indiana.

    “So if it’s okay, I’m gonna close, wipe my tears and pack our bags to hit the road headed south. She’s already got a head-start on me,” Rory wrote on the day Joey died.

    Earlier in his post he shared word of his beloved Joey Feek’s passing.

    “My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven,” he wrote through his tears.

    “The cancer is gone, the pain has ceased and all her tears are dry. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her savior,” he added.

    “At 2:30 this afternoon, as we were gathered around her, holding hands and praying.. my precious bride breathed her last. And a moment later took her first breath on the other side.”

    A new Instagram photo is proof positive Rory Feek followed his and Joey’s plan. It shows him with daughter Indiana on his shoulders, petting one of his horses on their Tennessee farm.

    Rory captioned the post very simply.

    “Home,” he wrote.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    Joey Feek’s life will be celebrated in a private funeral before she is buried in a simple wooden box on their farm.

    Before she died, Joey Feek talked about “going home.” She didn’t mean to Tennessee, where she said the flowers on their farm would soon bloom. Instead she meant home to Jesus, her savior, in whom she trusted completely.

    Rory captioned yet another photo of their Tennessee farm quite aptly, in light of that conversation he had with Joey.

    “Home,” it reads.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    Joey Feek, as her husband wrote, is free of cancer and no longer in pain. Rory Feek’s pain will take a long time to subside, however, and likely won’t ever go away.

    He has his sweet little Indy to raise–as a single father.

    It’s likely Rory Feek will keep fans apprised of Joey’s funeral. The family has already asked those who wish to send flowers in honor of Joey Feek to send a small donation instead.

    Joey and Indy
    P.O. Box 5471
    Vancouver, WA 98668

    There’s something very comforting in the word “home.” Joey Feek and her family all went home as a result of her passing. And even though that “home” means something different for each of them, there is a peace Joey and Rory shared when making life’s final plans.

  • Joey and Rory Singer Joey Feek Loses Cancer Battle at Age 40

    Joey and Rory Feek have long been known in the country/bluegrass world as Joey + Rory. On Friday, half of the duo, Joey Feek, lost her battle to cancer at the age of 40.

    Husband Rory announced Joey Feek’s passing on his blog, This Life I Live.

    “My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven,” Rory wrote.

    “The cancer is gone, the pain has ceased and all her tears are dry. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her savior,” the grieving husband added.

    “At 2:30 this afternoon, as we were gathered around her, holding hands and praying.. my precious bride breathed her last. And a moment later took her first breath on the other side.”

    Joey Feek allowed Rory to share their story with their friends, fans, and followers in the months leading up to her death. Both believed their faith would see them through, and they longed to share their faith with others.

    Shortly before Joey Feek died, a new Joey + Rory album was released. “Hymns That Are Important to Us” climbed to the top of the Billboard Country charts–a milestone Joey lived to see.

    Not long before the new Joey + Rory album was complete, Joey Feek begged producers to add one last song–one that held great meaning to her and that she believed would hold great meaning for Rory after she passed away. That song’s title is “When I’m Gone.”

    Superstars in the country music world–Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, and more–are sharing their condolences and love in light of the Joey + Rory singer’s passing.

    The country music world has lost a great talent in the passing of Joey + Rory’s Joey Feek. Rory Feek and their daughter Indiana have lost so much more.

  • Rory Feek Mourns Passing of His Beloved Joey, Will Raise Daughter Indiana as Single Dad

    Rory Feek is mourning the passing of his beloved wife, Joey Feek, who died at the age of 40 on Friday, following a lengthy cancer battle. Rory maintains Joey didn’t lose her battle, however. Instead he believes she won.

    Journaling his way through his wife’s illness on his blog, This Life I Live, Rory Feek shared word of Joey Feek’s passing on Friday afternoon.

    “My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven,” Rory wrote.

    “The cancer is gone, the pain has ceased and all her tears are dry. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her savior,” he continued.

    “At 2:30 this afternoon, as we were gathered around her, holding hands and praying.. my precious bride breathed her last. And a moment later took her first breath on the other side.”

    Clinging to the strong Christian beliefs he and Joey Feek shared, Rory Feek will now go on to raise their daughter, two-year-old Indiana, as a single dad. And while that struggle is great, Rory faces one that is even greater. Indiana Feek has Down syndrome.

    Children with Down syndrome, as Joey and Rory maintained from their moment Joey gave birth to little Indy, are precious gifts from God. No different from other children in so many ways, they love to smile, laugh, play, and fight life’s little battles with energy and perseverance. Unlike many other children, kids with Down syndrome endure a lifetime of developmental delays. Some endure a lifetime of physical ailments, too. Some of those ailments include heart problems, poor hearing and eyesight, and a bevy of respiratory illnesses. It’s uncertain which–if any–Indiana Feek was born with. Depending on her health concerns, Rory Feek could spend a good part of his life visiting doctors with Indy.

    Another concern among parents of children with Down syndrome is who will care for them when their parent or parents are either unable or pass away. Rory Feek is almost 50. Even if he lives into his 80s, Indiana will only be in her 30s. He will need to plan ahead for her care in preparation for the day when he can no longer provide it.

    Although many people with Down syndrome grow up to live independent lives, most require some sort of care or supervision for their entire lives.

    Fortunately Rory Feek is surrounded by many people who love him, and love Indiana, too. His grown daughters, Hopie and Heidi, are a great source of comfort.

    Life won’t be easy for Rory Feek in the weeks and months to come. Armed with his faith and his ongoing love for Joey, he will no doubt move forward, doing all Joey Feek expected of him in light of her passing.

    It will be interesting to see if Rory Feek holds fast to his claim made in recent weeks, that he won’t sing any more once Joey died. His music–even as just half of the country/bluegrass duo Joey + Rory–could be the perfect therapy along his road to healing his aching heart.

    Rory will long be reminded of Joey Feek’s love–especially when he looks into the face of his sweet little Indiana. Hopefully one day soon he will feel her strength, too, and take the steps needed to make a wonderful life for himself and for his little girl.

    Lots of people are praying for Rory Feek and his daughter. He is no doubt surrounded by love at this painful time.

  • Joey Feek of Joey + Rory Fame Passes Away, Remembered by Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, and More

    Joey Feek, one-half of the country/bluegrass duo known as Joey + Rory, lost her battle to cancer on Friday, passing away around 2:30 yesterday afternoon.

    Fighting cancer since 2014, Joey Feek never complained about her trials, but used them as a way to grow closer to Jesus. She and husband Rory Feek clung to their deep Christian faith throughout her illness, and Rory will now rely on it for strength in the coming difficult days.

    Superstars within the country music world are grieving Joey Feek’s passing right along with her family. Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, Chris Young, and more shared their sorrow over the loss of the Joey + Rory singer.

    Joey Feek was surrounded by loved ones, including two-year-old daughter Indiana, and Rory Feek’s daughters from a previous relationship, Hopie and Heidi, at the time of her passing. She died at her childhood home in Indiana. She will be buried at the farm she and Rory shared in Tennessee.

    Joey Feek’s passing on Friday was first shared by husband Rory on his blog, This Life I Live. Rory Feek has detailed the highs and lows of the past months of Joey’s illness on the blog.

    “My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in Heaven,” Rory penned.

    “The cancer is gone, the pain has ceased and all her tears are dry. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her savior,” he shared.

    “At 2:30 this afternoon, as we were gathered around her, holding hands and praying.. my precious bride breathed her last,” he wrote.

    “And a moment later took her first breath on the other side.”

    Rory Feek has struggled immensely in the face of Joey Feek’s illness, yet has remained steadfast and true to their faith. He has remained upbeat and positive for his little girl.

    Weeks ago, in his blog, Rory said once Joey Feek was gone, he would stop singing. He claimed he couldn’t imagine performing or recording without his precious Joey by his side.

    Perhaps Joey Feek will inspire her husband from Heaven, so he may continue to use the gift he shared with others for so many years.

    Life has now irrevocably changed for Rory Feek. He will go on and raise a little girl with Down syndrome as a single dad. He will no doubt cling to his memories of Joey and honor her memory in countless ways in the months and years to come.

    Joey Feek left behind a legacy that goes so much farther than her music. She left one of strength and endurance, proving to all that winning the race isn’t necessarily the greatest prize. The prize is in the route itself.

    Joey Feek touched many along her route, in ways that will affect them for a long, long time.

  • Joey Feek: Joey + Rory Singer Kisses Daughter Indiana Goodbye and Goes Into “Deep Sleep,” Nears End of Her Life

    Joey Feek, one-half of the country/bluegrass duo known as Joey + Rory, has been in a “deep sleep” for a few days now, and hospice caregivers told husband Rory she has a few days–at most–to live.

    Battling cancer since her 2014 diagnosis, Joey Feek fought a good fight. She told husband Rory Feek last week she was done fighting.

    “Joey has done all she set out to do… even right to the very end, and by sheer will-power (and God’s grace), she was still here to to see our baby’s 2nd birthday. Over the last number of weeks her pain had gotten worse and her health had continued to decline rapidly. And not long after Indy’s birthday my wife decided that ‘enough is enough’. She was ready to stop fighting and she told me so. She said the flowers would soon be blooming back in Tennessee. It’s time to go home,” Rory Feek posted on his blog, This Life I Live, on Monday.

    “Joey gathered her family together around her and she said goodbye to each of them… to her mother and father and her three sisters. There were lots of tears as she explained to each one how much she loved them and that she was going to be going home soon. That her time here was done and she was going to go to sleep soon. And then she asked me to bring our baby in. And so… I set our little Indy on Joey’s lap and we all cried with my wife as she told her how much her mama loved her and, ‘…you be a big girl for your papa… and that mama will be watching over you.’ And then she pulled Indiana up and she kissed her,” he added. “One last kiss.”

    Rory went on to write that his better half–Joey Feek–is truly nearing the end.

    “My wife has been asleep for days now and her body is shutting down quickly. The hospice nurse came again this morning and said Joey will most-likely only be with us for a few more days… at the most,” he wrote.

    “A few more days…In the 40 short years that Joey has lived, my bride has accomplished many great things…she’s lived a very full life. But even more than that, she has loved those around her greatly and been loved greatly in return. I can honestly say that Joey’s isn’t just a life well-lived, it’s a life well-loved,” Rory wrote.

    “God only gives each of us a certain amount of time to be on this earth and every day when we wake up, we get to decide how we are going to spend those precious minutes and hours. There are no do-overs, no second-chances, no next-time-around’s to get it right. Joey knew this and she has made each and every day count. One of the last things Joey said before she drifted into the deep sleep she’s been in for a few days now is, ‘I have no regrets… I can honestly say, that I have done everything I wanted to do and lived the life I always wanted to live,’” Rory shared.

    Joey Feek lived long enough to realize some milestones in recent weeks, most of which no one believed she’d live to see. She lived to see the release of the new Joey + Rory album, and she learned it hit number one on the Billboard Country charts. She lived to see a Joey + Rory song announced as a nominee on the Grammy Awards. She spent one last romantic Valentine’s Day with her beloved Rory. And she lived to see their sweet little girl, Indiana Feek, celebrate her second birthday.

    Joey Feek has fought the good fight and she doesn’t want to fight any more. She believes strongly she will soon be in Jesus’s loving arms. The strong Christian faith Rory and Joey Faith have long shared will help keep Rory strong in the dark days ahead.

  • Joey and Rory’s Joey Feek: Rory Writes She’s in “Deep Sleep,” Won’t Live Much Longer

    Joey and Rory singer Joey Feek has reportedly been in a “deep sleep” for days, and hospice caregivers told Rory Feek she likely won’t live more than a few days at most.

    Best known as the country/bluegrass duo Joey + Rory, Joey was diagnosed with cancer back in 2014. She stopped treatments this past fall, and has slowly wasted away since then.

    Although Joey’s body has failed her in recent weeks, her heart and mind stayed sharp until she fell into a deep sleep a few days ago.

    Rory Feek writes about these latest developments in his blog, This Life I Live, where he has kept Joey + Rory fans abreast of Joey’s health for months.

    “Joey has done all she set out to do… even right to the very end, and by sheer will-power (and God’s grace), she was still here to to see our baby’s 2nd birthday. Over the last number of weeks her pain had gotten worse and her health had continued to decline rapidly. And not long after Indy’s birthday my wife decided that ‘enough is enough’. She was ready to stop fighting and she told me so. She said the flowers would soon be blooming back in Tennessee. It’s time to go home,” Rory posted on February 29.

    “Joey gathered her family together around her and she said goodbye to each of them… to her mother and father and her three sisters. There were lots of tears as she explained to each one how much she loved them and that she was going to be going home soon. That her time here was done and she was going to go to sleep soon. And then she asked me to bring our baby in. And so… I set our little Indy on Joey’s lap and we all cried with my wife as she told her how much her mama loved her and, ‘…you be a big girl for your papa… and that mama will be watching over you.’ And then she pulled Indiana up and she kissed her,” he added. “One last kiss.”

    Rory went on to write that his better half–one-half of Joey + Rory–is truly near the end.

    “My wife has been asleep for days now and her body is shutting down quickly. The hospice nurse came again this morning and said Joey will most-likely only be with us for a few more days… at the most,” he wrote.

    “A few more days…In the 40 short years that Joey has lived, my bride has accomplished many great things…she’s lived a very full life. But even more than that, she has loved those around her greatly and been loved greatly in return. I can honestly say that Joey’s isn’t just a life well-lived, it’s a life well-loved,” Rory penned.

    “God only gives each of us a certain amount of time to be on this earth and every day when we wake up, we get to decide how we are going to spend those precious minutes and hours. There are no do-overs, no second-chances, no next-time-around’s to get it right. Joey knew this and she has made each and every day count. One of the last things Joey said before she drifted into the deep sleep she’s been in for a few days now is, ‘I have no regrets… I can honestly say, that I have done everything I wanted to do and lived the life I always wanted to live,’” Rory added.

    Joey Feek reached some milestones in recent weeks, most of which no one believed she’d live to see. She lived to see the release of the new Joey + Rory album, and she learned it hit number one on the Billboard Country charts. She lived to see a Joey + Rory song announced as a nominee on the Grammy Awards. She spent one last romantic Valentine’s Day with Rory. And she lived to see their sweet little girl, Indiana Feek, turn two years old.

    Joey, as Rory wrote, is tired. She’s fought the good fight and she doesn’t want to fight any more. She believes strongly she will soon be in her savior’s arms in Heaven. That faith is what will help keep Rory strong in the dark days ahead.

    Joey and Rory asked to have a very special song added to their latest album, “Hymns That Are Important to Us,” before it was released. That song, “When I’m Gone,” will soon hold very special meaning for Rory Feek.

  • Joey Feek of Joey + Rory Fame in “Deep Sleep,” Said Her Goodbyes and Has Just Days–at Most–to Live

    Joey Feek of Joey + Rory Fame in “Deep Sleep,” Said Her Goodbyes and Has Just Days–at Most–to Live

    Joey Feek of country/bluegrass duo Joey + Rory fame is close to the end of her long battle with cancer. Husband Rory wrote about how Joey Feek hasn’t been awake for days, and that she doesn’t have much time left.

    Rory Feek has kept fans, family members, and friends apprised of Joey Feek’s condition for months now, on his blog, This Life I Live. In a February 29 post, he shared that Joey has said her goodbyes to everyone.

    “Joey has done all she set out to do… even right to the very end, and by sheer will-power (and God’s grace), she was still here to to see our baby’s 2nd birthday. Over the last number of weeks her pain had gotten worse and her health had continued to decline rapidly. And not long after Indy’s birthday my wife decided that ‘enough is enough’. She was ready to stop fighting and she told me so. She said the flowers would soon be blooming back in Tennessee. It’s time to go home,” Rory penned through his tears.

    “Joey gathered her family together around her and she said goodbye to each of them… to her mother and father and her three sisters. There were lots of tears as she explained to each one how much she loved them and that she was going to be going home soon. That her time here was done and she was going to go to sleep soon. And then she asked me to bring our baby in. And so… I set our little Indy on Joey’s lap and we all cried with my wife as she told her how much her mama loved her and, ‘…you be a big girl for your papa… and that mama will be watching over you.’ And then she pulled Indiana up and she kissed her,” he adds. “One last kiss.”

    Rory went on to write that Joey Feek is truly near the end.

    “My wife has been asleep for days now and her body is shutting down quickly. The hospice nurse came again this morning and said Joey will most-likely only be with us for a few more days… at the most,” he shares.

    “A few more days…In the 40 short years that Joey has lived, my bride has accomplished many great things…she’s lived a very full life. But even more than that, she has loved those around her greatly and been loved greatly in return. I can honestly say that Joey’s isn’t just a life well-lived, it’s a life well-loved,” Rory writes.

    “God only gives each of us a certain amount of time to be on this earth and every day when we wake up, we get to decide how we are going to spend those precious minutes and hours. There are no do-overs, no second-chances, no next-time-around’s to get it right. Joey knew this and she has made each and every day count. One of the last things Joey said before she drifted into the deep sleep she’s been in for a few days now is, ‘I have no regrets… I can honestly say, that I have done everything I wanted to do and lived the life I always wanted to live,’” Rory adds.

    Joey Feek has reached a point most believed she’d reach weeks, if not months, ago. Instead she lived to see the release of the new Joey + Rory album, and she learned it hit number one on the Billboard Country charts. She lived to see a Joey+ Rory song announced as a nominee on the Grammy Awards. She spent one last romantic Valentine’s Day with her husband. And she lived to see their precious little girl, Indiana, turn two years old.

    Joey Feek, as Rory wrote, is tired. She’s fought the good fight and she doesn’t want to fight any more. She believes strongly she will soon be in her savior’s arms in Heaven. That faith is what will help keep Rory strong in the dark days ahead.

    Joey Feek has set such an incredible example for so many. She’s taught us that life is precious, and that it’s a gift. And she treasured every single moment of it for as long as she could.

    Soon those who prayed for Joey Feek will pray for Rory in the wake of her passing. They’ll pray for strength in his toughest days, and for loved ones to surround him and Indiana.

    Life won’t be easy for Rory when his beloved Joey is gone, but he’ll have no regrets.

    Rory has stood by Joey Feek nearly every minute of every day since she went home to her childhood home to die. Now it seems that day is coming soon.

  • Joey and Rory Feek: New Album Hits Number One on Billboard Country Charts

    Joey and Rory Feek–better known in the music world as Joey + Rory–are celebrating yet another victory in the face of Joey’s cancer. The new album the country/bluegrass duo released almost two weeks ago, “Hymns That Are Important to Us,” has reached number one on the Billboard Country music charts.

    “When the label called to give us the news I immediately took the phone in to Joey,” Rory said in a press release. “This recording was ‘hers’ from the beginning. This is one that she has always wanted to make, and she’s worked so hard to make it happen, in spite of the difficult circumstances she is facing. As I congratulated her, she responded through tears, ‘No, Honey, this is God’s record….’”

    In addition to that bit of good news, Joey and Rory also learned their album topped both Billboard’s Contemporary Christian Album and Christian Video charts.

    Joey Feek is growing weaker by the day. Diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014, she has been at her childhood home in Indiana under hospice care since early fall. Some of the tracks on their album were recorded in a hotel room near where she underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments last summer.

    Joey and Rory fans, as well as friends and family members, keep Joey and Rory Feek constantly in their prayers. Although God may not provide the kind of miracle they’re praying for, lots of joy–like their number one album–has graced their lives in recent days.

  • Joey Feek Continues to Amaze and Inspire, Joey + Rory Singer Prepares Dinner from Deathbed

    Joey Feek has been a source of strength and inspiration for so many during her cancer battle. In hospice care at her childhood home in Indiana, husband Rory Feek–the other half of the country/bluegrass Joey + Rory–has chronicled their ups and downs on his blog, This Life I Live.

    On Sunday, Rory shared a photo on Instagram that clearly depicts the love and determination still fully present in Joey Feek, as she prepares dinner for her family from her deathbed.

    “when a mother can’t get to the kitchen, but wants so much to help make her family dinner… you bring the kitchen to mama,” Rory captioned the photo of Joey Feek–in bed, with bowls and ingredients at arms’ length.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    Just days ago Joey Feek celebrated several milestones she and her family never expected she would live to see. She celebrated the release of the new Joey + Rory album, “Hymns That Are Important to Us,” just before Valentine’s Day. She celebrated Valentine’s Day with her beloved Rory and their daughter Indiana. Joey and Rory watched the Grammy Awards the next night. Even though their song, “If I Needed You,” didn’t win a Grammy, they celebrated Joey Feek living to watch their name announced at the awards show.

    Probably the biggest milestone for Joey Feek, however, was living to celebrate daughter Indiana’s second birthday on Wednesday of last week. Joey and Rory had taken to celebrating Indy’s birthday by the month, fearing Joey wouldn’t live to see her precious little girl turn two.

    Rory Feek shared that precious day on Instagram, too.

    “..some birthdays are more than just birthdays. They’re dreams coming true and prayers being answered,” he captioned a photo of Indiana and Joey Feek sharing love and laughter in Joey’s bed.

    A photo posted by Joey+Rory (@roryandjoey) on

    Joey Feek is astonishing. Just when fans–close friends and family members, too–fear the end is imminent, she surprises everyone with her strength and determination. Seeing Joey Feek preparing dinner from her deathbed is just one such instance those who love and admire the ailing singer will surely never forget.

  • Joey and Rory Feek Enjoy Precious Intimacy for First Time in Months on Joey’s Deathbed

    Joey and Rory Feek are milking her last days here on earth for all they’re worth. Dying of cervical cancer, Joey Feek has spent the last few months under hospice care in her childhood home in Indiana. Rory is never far from her side.

    Last week the couple, known best as Joey + Rory in the music world, enjoyed a sacred few minutes of precious intimacy–albeit on Joey’s deathbed.

    Rory shares the details on his blog, This Life I Live.

    “As I said goodnight and tucked the blankets around her in the little hospital bed she has been living in for months she thanked me for the special night and then made one last request,” Rory writes. “‘If Jody helps me to scoot over to one side…could you try to lay down with me and put your arms around me?’ I haven’t been able to be in the same bed with my wife or hold her in my arms since the beginning of November–when she made her last trip to the hospital. But for one sweet half-an-hour…that changed on Valentine’s Day.”

    What a blessing for Joey and Rory to relish those few minutes of closeness–an intimacy that is so difficult to find in the face of terminal illness. There are always people around, not to mention meds to be administered, and a wealth of details that require attention.

    Joey and Rory Feek were lauded by the governor of Indiana last week, too. Recipients of the Sagamore of the Wabash Award, Joey and Rory were awed and humbled by the surprise.

    “Throughout her battle with cervical cancer, Joey and Rory have maintained their faith in God, while also providing hope and encouragement to family, friends, and thousands of fans that have been impacted by their blog and social media posts,” State Representative Bruce Borders said on behalf of the governor. “Important Hoosier values, such as loving others, serving one’s country, following one’s dreams, and showcasing grace and joy during difficult times — have all been exhibited by Joey and Rory.”

    The award was presented to Joey Feek’s dad–Jack Martin–on February 17.

    Joey and Rory Feek are both upstanding examples of courage. Joey Feek’s courage comes in the form of her faith. Rory’s comes in his faith, too, as well as perseverance, as he knows the day will soon come when he will have to carry on without his Joey.

    May Joey and Rory continue to cherish each precious moment spent together before Joey leaves this earth.