Today, at 2:31 p.m. surrounded by her family, 40-year-old singer-songwriter Joey Feek passed away peacefully at home following a 9-month battle with metastatic cervical cancer. She is survived by her husband Rory Feek, two step-daughters, Heidi and Hope, and her two-year-old daughter Indiana.
Together with her husband, she made up one half of the country duo Joey + Rory, which first rose to fame on CMT’s singing competition “Can You Duet?” back in 2008.
Over the next seven years, the duo released a total of seven albums, with an eighth due out in 2016. In the past two years, the pair ramped up their recording to give Joey as many opportunities as possible to share her voice and her faith with the world.
She was initially diagnosed with cervical cancer in June of 2014, shortly after the birth of the couple’s daughter Indiana. She beat back the disease, but the cancer returned just one year later, and she received a terminal diagnosis in October 2015.
Despite the ups and downs of treatment, Joey never let her diagnosis diminish her spirit. She continued to produce music for as long as possible, releasing “Softly and Tenderly,” her prayer for her baby daughter, just weeks after her illness returned. Defiant of her prognosis, Joey continued to take every day as a blessing to be shared with her loved ones.
Every step of the way, she had her husband Rory by her side, chronicling her illness in his blog This Life I Live, and sharing cherished memories of his beloved. Together, the duo created dozens of moving pieces of music, and even earned a Grammy nomination in the final months of Joey's life.
Through thick and thin, he stood by her side, describing their bond beautifully: "I am married to the greatest woman that I've ever known. Her name is Joey. She has the voice of angel and the heart of a saint."
It couldn't be more clear that every photo that Rory shares is a treasured piece of his memory of his bride. Married for 13 years, and parents to their daughter Indiana, you can see the joy in every photo of the family together, like this beautiful family photo of mom and baby together.
Before Indiana came along, Joey had never given birth, but she still knew what it was like to be a parent. For the 13 years of their marriage, she mothered Rory's two teenage daughters from a previous marriage, Heidi and Hope. When Indiana arrived in 2014, she had a trio of loving daughters who cared about her deeply, and remained by her side throughout her illness.
Just days before she passed on, Joey took a moment to share a last goodbye and a final kiss with her sweet daughter Indiana, telling the little girl, "…you be a big girl for your papa… mama will be watching over you." After sharing her goodbyes, the singer-songwriter fell into a deep sleep, and passed away peacefully Friday afternoon.
She will be remembered as a talented musician, a proud Christian, and a loving wife and mother.
Watch the video below to relive a beautiful moment with Joey + Rory.
Please SHARE this song in Joey’s memory, and in the memory of all loved ones who have passed on.
