Country singer Rory Feek is raising his daughter, Indiana, with down syndrome on their farm after his wife, Joey, died from cancer. Although she is no longer with them, Rory and Indiana strongly connect with her and often visit Joey’s grave. Since her passing, the musician has built a school for his daughter where she can grow up like a normal child.
Rory Feek, born in 1965, found success as a singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and author. He married Joey Feek in 2002, and while they lived in marital bliss, their romantic relationship also thrived professionally.
Rory and Joey pursued solo careers until they joined Country Music Television’s competition series “Can You Duet.” Encouraged by their manager, the duo performed beautifully on the show and placed third among eight finalists.
Their collaboration on the series gave birth to Joey + Rory, their singing group of two, and landed them a deal with Sugar Hill Records.
Two years later, the singing duo reached a career milestone as the recipient of the Top New Vocal Duo of the Year Award at the 2010 ACM Awards for their debut album, “The Life of a Song.” They were also nominated for Top Vocal Duo of the Year and Top New Artist of the Year.
Joey + Rory’s other nominations include Vocal Duo of the Year at the ACM Awards in 2016 and CMA Awards in two different years. Their track “When I’m Gone” was also nominated for Best Country Duo/ Group Performance at the 2016 Grammy Awards.
Besides awards, their albums and songs topped the charts several times. The duo’s “The Life of a Song” and “Album Number Two” were both included in the Top 10 Country Charts, while their songs “When I’m Gone” and “Cheater, Cheater” landed spots in the Top 30.
Rory faced the same challenge of being a single dad to Indiana after his wife succumbed to cancer. Joey was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014 and immediately underwent a radical hysterectomy to treat the illness.
Among their biggest successes was when their “Hymns That Are Important to Us” album reached the number one spot on the Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums Charts.
Hard work, talent, and determination gave Rory a comfortable life with his family. According to Yahoo, he has amassed a $3 million net worth.
On February 17, 2014, amidst their growing career, Joey and Rory became parents to Indiana Feek. Born in Columbia, Tennessee, Indiana’s down syndrome diagnosis came at an early age. “She just needs love, just like everybody else,” the doting dad said of his daughter.
Rory is also a father to Hopie and Heidi, his daughters from a previous marriage with Tamara Gilmer. Hopie and Heidi, now adults, were raised by Rory singlehandedly after their parents divorced in 1992.
In her last few months, she ultimately entered hospice care and celebrated milestones with her family, including Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, and their daughter’s second birthday.
Sadly, Rory faced the same challenge of being a single dad to Indiana after his wife succumbed to cancer. Joey was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2014 and immediately underwent a radical hysterectomy to treat the illness. Joey and Rory knew their odds but trusted God’s plan.
Undergoing treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation, was no easy feat for the couple, who had just started a family with their daughter. Soon, Rory shaved his wife’s hair as it began to fall due to the therapy. Joey received support from her three sisters, dad, and niece, who also shaved their heads.
Rory’s older daughters also supported their stepmother’s challenges and were present when her hair was cut. Rory narrated:
“Our older daughters were still here, so they sat at the foot of Joey’s chair in the middle of the living room and held her hands as I took the clippers that she usually cuts my hair with and followed through with her wishes.”
Unfortunately, the cancer aggressively spread, and Joey’s life was marked with a timeline. In her last few months, she ultimately entered hospice care and celebrated milestones with her family, including Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, and their daughter’s second birthday.
The couple also had several serious conversations about parting, including Joey’s revelation that she was ready to join her creator should it be her time.
Although it seemed like no words were left unsaid as Joey prepared her family for a life without her, letting go was never easy. Joey lost her battle with cancer on March 4, 2016, at 40. At that time, Rory shared on his blog:
“My wife’s greatest dream came true today. She is in heaven. The cancer is gone. The pain has ceased, and all her tears are dry.”
Taking Care of His Daughter on the Farm
Despite her passing, Rory continues to feel his wife’s presence as he raises their daughter in Columbia, Tennessee. The singer proudly wears his wedding ring as he feels he is still in a traditional marriage. “She’s still wearing hers,” he said.
Indiana has since joined classes in the schoolhouse alongside other kids in their community. As he recalled walking his little girl to school for the first time, Rory claimed it was a day he never imagined doing alone.
According to Rory, he still feels complete in the union without seeing his late wife. He credits Joey for bringing fulfillment into his life, and even without her physical presence, she continues to do so.
In 2020, Rory admitted that he could not see himself dating again, although he would accept it, should it be the will of God. He has been preoccupied with his daughter in previous years, raising her in a loving community.
Since Joey’s passing, Rory has embraced the role of single parenthood to their daughter. He claimed his experience raising Indiana was the same as when raising his older kids. Rory wants his daughter to grow up in a normal environment on their 100-acre Hardison Mill farm as much as possible.
The loving dad built their farm to start a community with its own school, concert venue, restaurant and bakery, and house. Rory made the farm school based on the 1892 Kentucky schoolhouse he and his daughter saw.
Indiana has since joined classes in the schoolhouse alongside other kids in their community. As he recalled walking his little girl to school for the first time, Rory claimed it was a day he never imagined doing alone.
Rory’s idea of building a school on the farm came as a contingency when his wife could no longer homeschool their daughter. Joey’s wish had always been to homeschool their daughter, and despite her death, Rory fulfilled it.
Building a school was a dream he materialized to help Indiana have the best educational experience. He credited his fans who sent letters of sympathy during Joey’s death, including bills and checks. He used the money to fund the project. So far, the schooling experience has been a great opportunity for his daughter. Rory said:
“Indiana’s smile lights up not just the room but the world.”
More than learning inside the classroom, Indiana understands the world around her – how to grow food, live as part of a community, and be a good person. Their happy community often engages through activities, co-existing on one big farm.
Despite all he has been through, Rory is grateful for the people around him and considers himself lucky to have a beautiful daughter.
Fortunately, Rory’s family has been of great help in raising Indiana. His sisters relocated to their farm, while his two daughters live nearby. “Most little girls have a mother. Indiana has a lot of mothers,” he said.
While no one can ever replace Joey, Rory is forever grateful for the women who make him a better dad to Indiana. Without asking, his sisters and daughters help in the big and small ways they know how.
“I think that’s a really special thing, just to be surrounded by so much love and encouragement with your family and extended family, too,” Rory said.
Rory has also succeeded in his career with a television show and new songs released. He still remembers his wife often and paid tribute to her with a restaurant, Marcy Jo’s Muletown, built in her honor on their farm.
Despite all he has been through, Rory is grateful for the people around him and considers himself lucky to have a beautiful daughter who is both sweet and loving to others.
“I used to look at Joey and think, ‘How in the world did I get this lucky?’” he shared. Now with Indiana, he looks at her and thinks the same way as he did with Joey – “How in the world did I get so lucky to be with such a pretty, sweet, wonderful little one?”
In 2019, Rory looked back at the life he had built on his farm, detailing the journey from start to present. In an Instagram post, he revealed they moved into the estate on Memorial Day 1999 with hammers and dreams.
In 2021, the father and daughter duo attended a church gathering in their barn and visited the cemetery where Joey was laid to rest. Indiana came with flowers and a hand-written card she wrote during class.
At that time, he had no vision of the future but trusted God’s plan for him and his family. As time passed, family and friends who turned into family slowly joined their community and became constant sources of support.
Rory ended his post with gratitude towards all who helped grow the farm and make it a wonderful community.
The “Gentleman” singer often uses his Instagram account to share glimpses of his life on the farm with Indiana and promote concerts and activities on their farm. As of writing, Rory has a broad reach of nearly 700,000 followers.
His Daughter Still Remembers Her Mom
Indiana was only a toddler when Joey passed away, but her father is raising their daughter to remember her mother’s life. Joey’s celebrated her first Mother’s Day in 2014 and her last in 2015 with her family.
Rory and Indiana still celebrated Mother’s Day in the years after, but without Joey. In 2021, the father and daughter duo attended a church gathering in their barn and visited the cemetery where Joey was laid to rest. Indiana came with flowers and a hand-written card she wrote during class
Indiana’s heart-shaped letter was even more unique, with a photo of Joey and her daughter at the center. “I miss you,” she wrote behind the note.
When Joey began singing on the radio, her daughter immediately recognized the voice.” It’s Mama,” she said. As Rory recalled, none of them heard Joey’s voice, and it took a while for him to realize that it was their song playing.
Rory says he and his daughter can still feel Joey close to them. “Even though Indy can’t see her or tell her how much she loves her in person, I think her mama knows,” he said.