Country singer Rory Feek is raising his daughter, Indiana, with Down syndrome on their farm after his wife, Joey, died from cancer. Since her passing, the musician has built a school for his daughter where she can grow up like a normal child

Rory Feek, who was born in 1965, rose to prominence as a singer-songwriter, filmmaker, and novelist. He married Joey Feek in 2002, and their personal relationship flourished professionally while they were married.

Before joining the “Can You Duet?” competition show on Country Music Television, Rory and Joey tried out solo careers. The couple put forth a strong performance on the show and came in third place out of eight finalists thanks to their management.

Their work on the show gave rise to Joey + Rory, their singing duo, and secured them a record deal with Sugar Hill Records.

Two years later, at the 2010 ACM Awards, the singing duet received the Top New Vocal Duo of the Year Award for their debut album, “The Life of a Song.” They were also nominated for Best Vocal Duo and Best New Artist of the Year.

Joey and Rory have also been nominated for Vocal Duo of the Year at the ACM Awards in 2016 and the CMA Awards in two different years. For the 2016 Grammy Awards, their song “When I’m Gone” was nominated for Best Country Duo or Group Performance.

Besides receiving honors, their albums and songs frequently topped the charts. The duo’s tracks “The Life of a Song” and “Album Number Two” were in the Top 10, while “When I’m Gone” and “Cheater, Cheater” charted in the Top 30.

Rory had the same difficulties as a single father in Indiana when his wife died of cancer. In 2014, Joey was told she had cervical cancer and had to have an emergency radical hysterectomy to get rid of the disease.

Among their most notable achievements was when their album “Hymns That Are Important to Us” debuted at number one on the Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums charts.

Rory had a good existence with his family because of his hard work, ability, and dedication. According to Yahoo, he has a net worth of $3 million.

Joey and Rory had their first child, Indiana Feek, on February 17, 2014. Indiana, who was born in Columbia, Tennessee, was diagnosed with Down syndrome at a young age. “She simply needs love, like everyone else,” his adoring father stated of his daughter.

Rory also has two daughters from a previous marriage with Tamara Gilmer, Hopie and Heidi. Rory raised Hopie and Heidi, now adults, on his own when their parents split in 1992.

In her last few months, she got hospice care and celebrated important events with her family, like Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, and the second birthday of their daughter.

After his wife died of illness, Rory had the same problem as Indiana. He was a single parent. In 2014, Joey was told she had cervical cancer and had to have an emergency radical hysterectomy to get rid of the disease. Joey and Rory were aware of their odds, but they trusted God’s plan.

Treatment, which included chemotherapy and radiation, was not easy for the couple, who had only recently begun a family with their daughter. Rory soon shaved his wife’s hair when it began to fall out as a result of the therapy. Joey gained encouragement from her three sisters, father, and niece, all of whom shaved their heads.

Rory’s older girls were also kind and helpful when their stepmother was having trouble. They were there when she got her hair cut. Rory narrated:

“Since our older kids were still there, they sat at the foot of Joey’s chair in the middle of the living room and held her hands while I grabbed the clippers she typically uses to trim my hair and carried out her requests.”

Sadly, Joey’s disease progressed quickly, and his existence was characterized by a chronology. She eventually accepted hospice care in her last months and celebrated milestones with her family, including Christmas, New Year’s, Valentine’s Day, and their daughter’s second birthday.

They also had many serious talks about their breakup, during which Joey said she was ready to go back to her creator when the time came.

While Joey appeared to leave no words unspoken as she prepared her family for life without her, letting go was never easy. Joey died of cancer on March 4, 2016, at the age of 40. Rory wrote on his blog at the time:

“Today, my wife’s biggest wish came true. She’s in a better place. The cancer has been eradicated. Her anguish has subsided, and her tears have dried.”

Even though Rory’s wife has died, she is still with him as he raises his daughter in Columbia, Tennessee. The musician wears his wedding band with pride because he thinks his marriage is real. “She’s still wearing hers,” he pointed out.

Indiana has recently started attending school with other children from their neighborhood. Rory recounted escorting his little daughter to school for the first time, saying it was a day he never imagined doing alone.
Without seeing his late wife, Rory says he still feels whole in the relationship. He credits Joey for bringing fulfillment into his life, which she continues to do even when she is not physically there.

In 2020, Rory confessed that he couldn’t picture himself dating again, though he would accept it if it was God’s will. In previous years, he had been focused on raising his daughter in a caring neighborhood.

Rory has accepted the role of single motherhood for their daughter since Joey’s death. He remarked that parenting Indiana was similar to raising his older children. Rory wants his kid to grow up as naturally as possible on their 100-acre Hardison Mill property.

The hardworking father turned their land into a town with a school, a place for performances, a restaurant, a bakery, and a place to live. Rory designed the farm school after seeing an 1892 Kentucky schoolhouse with his daughter.

Rory’s plan to build a school on the farm came about because his wife couldn’t teach their daughter on her own. Joey’s goal had always been to teach his daughter at home, and Rory did it even though she died.

Setting up a school was one of his goals, which he accomplished so that Indiana could get the best education possible. He thanked his admirers for sending messages of condolence, including bills and checks, following Joey’s passing. He put the money toward the project. So far, his daughter’s schooling experience has been a fantastic opportunity. Rory stated:

“India’s smile illuminates not only the room but the entire universe.”

Indiana knows the world around her, including how to grow food, live as a member of a community, and be a decent person. This pleasant community frequently engages in activities while coexisting on one large farm.

Despite everything, Rory is grateful for the people in his life and feels fortunate to have a lovely kid.

Rory’s family, fortunately, has been a huge help in raising Indiana. His sisters have moved to the property, and his two kids reside nearby. “The majority of little girls have a mother. There are a lot of mothers in Indiana,” he stated.

While no one can ever replace Joey, Rory will be eternally thankful to the ladies who help him be a better father to Indiana. His sisters and daughters assist him in whatever manner they can, large or small.

“I believe it’s extremely great to be surrounded by so much love and encouragement from your family and extended family,” Rory remarked.

Rory has also done well in his career, with a TV show and new songs that have been released. He still thinks about his wife often, and in her honor, he opened a restaurant on their property called Marcy Jo’s Muletown.

Despite everything, Rory is grateful for the people in his life and feels fortunate to have a lovely kid who is both nice and loving to others.

He explained, “I used to look at Joey and wonder, ‘How on earth did I get so lucky?'” He stares at Indiana and wonders, as he did with Joey, “How in the world did I get so blessed to be with such a gorgeous, sweet, great little one?”

In 2019, Rory reflected on the life he had made on his farm, describing the journey from beginning to end. He stated in an Instagram post that they moved into the estate on Memorial Day 1999 with hammers and hopes.

In 2021, the father-daughter trio attended a religious gathering in their barn and visited Joey’s gravesite. Indiana arrived with flowers and a handwritten letter that she had written during class.

He had no vision of the future at the moment, but he trusted God’s plan for him and his family. Over time, family members and friends who became family joined their group and became regular sources of help.

Rory concluded his statement by thanking everyone who helped build the farm and made it a lovely community.

The “Gentleman” singer frequently uses his Instagram account to share snippets of his farm life with fans and to promote concerts and agricultural activities. Rory has approximately 700,000 followers as of this writing.

Indiana was just a child when Joey died, but her father is teaching her about her mother’s life. Joey’s family celebrated her first Mother’s Day in 2014 and her last in 2015.

Rory and Indiana kept celebrating Mother’s Day without Joey in the years that came after. In 2021, the father-daughter trio attended a religious gathering in their barn and visited Joey’s gravesite. Indiana arrived with flowers and a handwritten letter that she had written during class.

Indiana’s heart-shaped letter was even more distinctive, with a photo of Joey and her kid in the center. “I miss you,” she wrote on the back of the note.

When Joey started singing on the radio, her daughter recognized the voice right away.

“It’s Mother,” she announced. According to Rory, none of them heard Joey’s voice, and it took him a long time to realize it was their music playing.

Rory claims he and his daughter can still sense Joey around. “I think her mom knows, even if Indiana can’t see her or tell her how much she loves her in person,” he added.

Since then, the cemetery has become a lovely spot for Rory and Indiana to visit and spend time together. Indiana, despite her youth, would lie in front of the tomb and watch the clouds pass by. Joey maintains contact with her child even when she is not present.

While eating lunch, Rory and Indiana were reminded of Joey. When Joey started singing on the radio, her daughter recognized the voice right away. “It’s Mother,” she announced. According to Rory, none of them heard Joey’s voice, and it took him a long time to realize it was their music playing. Rory stated:

“[India] is acutely aware of her mother, her mother’s voice, and her mother’s appearance. She, like me, keeps her alive.”

Despite the amazing women that surround them, Rory understands that growing up with a mother is an experience his daughter will never have. Nonetheless, he believes Indiana is growing up in a wonderful atmosphere and that Joey is proud of the wonderful young lady she has become.

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Country singer Rory Feek is raising his daughter, Indiana, with Down syndrome on their farm after his wife, Joey, died from cancer. Since her passing, the musician has built a school for his daughter where she can grow up like a normal child

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