Joey and Rory: A Country Music Legacy

Joey and Rory were one of the most beloved country music couples of all time. Though Joey sadly passed away in 2016, their music and legacy continue to live on. This blog is dedicated to celebrating their life and music.

Introduction

Joey and Rory Feek were a country music duo who rose to fame in 2008 with their ballad “Cheater, Cheater.” The couple was married for 11 years and had one child, Indiana, before Joey was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014. Joey passed away in March of 2016, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, and country music.

Early Life and Career

Joey Feek was born in Alexandria, Indiana, on September 9th, 1975. Rory Feek, born in Atchison, Kansas, on April 25th, 1965, was raised in various places across the United States before his family settled in Alexandria when he was a teenager. Joey and Rory met in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2002 and began dating shortly thereafter. They married on June 15th, 2002.

Rory’s Early Life

Joey Feek was born on September 9, 1975, in Alexandria, Indiana. Her parents, Jack and June, were both music lovers; June played the piano, and Jack sang in a local country band. The family often attended bluegrass and country shows together. When Joey was four years old, her brother Justin was born. Rory was home-schooled growing up. In high school she played sports and was crowned homecoming queen. After graduation, she enrolled at community college but dropped out after a semester to pursue her music dreams.

In 1995, Joey met Rory Lee Feek at a Nashville songwriters workshop. Rory had recently moved to Nashville from Atwood, Indiana, hoping to make it as a country songwriter. The two soon began dating and collaborating on songs together. In February 2002, they married in Norfolk, Virginia.

Joey + Rory released their first album in 2008. The album contained the singles “Cheater Cheater” and “ Somebody’s Gonna Hurt You.” They released six more albums over the next seven years. Their last album, “Hymns That Are Important to Us,” came out in 2016.

Joey’s Early Life

Joey was born on March 25, 1975 in Amory, Mississippi. Her full name is Joey Lynn Feek and she grew up in a very small town with not many opportunities. As a child, she loved to sing and play guitar. Her father encouraged her musical talents and would often take her to country music concerts. When Joey was 15 years old, she started working at a nursing home where she would sing to the residents. It was there that she realized how much joy music could bring to people’s lives.

Joeyn graduated from high school in 1993 and shortly after, she married her first husband Vince Gill. The marriage didn’t last long and they divorced after only a few months. Joey then moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue her dream of becoming a country music singer. She didn’t have much success at first and ended up working various odd jobs to make ends meet. In 2002, she met Rory Feek and they soon began dating. A few years later, they got married and welcomed their daughter Indiana into the world.

Their Career Beginnings

Joey and Rory began their music careers in 2008, after being discovered by country music legend, Chet Atkins. Their first album, The Life of a Song, was released in October of that year and debuted at Number One on the Billboard Country Music charts. The album went on to be certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

The couple released six more albums over the course of their career, including 2009’s Album II and 2014’s Made to Last. They also charted several singles on the Billboard Country Music charts, with their highest-charting single being “That’s Important to Me,” which peaked at Number Three in 2010.

Joey and Rory earned numerous awards and accolades over the course of their career, including three Grammy nominations, two Academy of Country Music Awards, and a CMA Award.

Mainstream Success

Although they never had a Number One hit on the Billboard country charts, Joey+Rory Feek made some of the most memorable and heartwarming music of the past decade. The married couple’s family-friendly, traditional country style won them a dedicated following among fans of classic country music. They also found success in the mainstream, earning Grammy nominations and performing on top-rated shows like The Late Show with David Letterman.

The Joey+Rory Show

The Joey+Rory Show was a weekly television series that followed the lives of husband and wife musicians Joey and Rory Feek. The couple documented their journey through music, marriage, and family life on the program, which aired from 2008 to 2010.

Joey+Rory released their debut album in 2008, and went on to release a total of three albums during the course of the show. In 2010, they won the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Vocal Duo.

After the show ended, Joey and Rory continued to make music together until Joey’s death in 2016. They released six more albums between 2010 and 2016, including three studio albums, one live album, and two compilations.

Joey’s Cancer Battle

In 2014, at age 40, Joey was diagnosed with cervical cancer. The couple later learned that the cancer had spread and, in October 2015, Joey entered hospice care. Despite her deteriorating health, Joey continued to record and release music with Rory. Their final album, Hymns That Are Important to Us, was released in February 2016. Joey died on March 4, 2016, at age 40.

Their Legacy

Joey and Rory were a country music duo who touched the lives of many with their beautiful songs and amazing talents. They were married for nearly 10 years before Joey passed away from cancer. Rory has continued making music and keeping their legacy alive.

Joey’s Death

In 2016, at age 40, Joey Feek lost her battle with cancer, but not before she and her husband, Rory, left behind an incredible musical legacy. The two had been making music together for over a decade when Joey was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014. Despite her diagnosis, the couple continued to tour and release music until Joey’s health took a turn for the worse in late 2015.

Joey passed away on March 4, 2016, leaving behind her husband and their two young daughters. In the months following her death, Rory released a posthumous album of Joey’s recordings, as well as a documentary about their lives together. He has also continued to perform and tour in honor of his wife’s memory.

The legacy of Joey and Rory Feek is one of music, love, and hope. Their story continues to inspire people around the world and their music will live on for generations to come.

Rory’s Continuing Legacy

Rory’s continuing Legacy is evident in the popularity of Joey + Rory’s music. Even after his death, Joey + Rory’s album, “Hymns That Are Important to Us” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. The album was released on February 12, 2016, just one day after Rory’s death.