Introduction
In a surprising turn of events, country singer Rory Feek has publicly addressed his daughter Hopie’s recent disclosure that he is not her biological father. The 59-year-old artist responded to Hopie’s statement in a heartfelt blog post, affirming his enduring love for her. “I love you as my daughter, and I always will,” he wrote, emphasizing that the news and subsequent DNA test results “doesn’t change anything.” He explained that his love for Hopie transcends biological ties, stating, “I love her because she’s my child, even if technically she’s not.”
However, Hopie, 36, expressed her profound disappointment with her father’s public response. In a series of Instagram posts, she criticized his decision to share personal family details and accused him of shaming her mother, Tamar Gilmore, who was married to Rory from 1985 to 1992 and is the mother of Hopie and her sister Heidi, 38. Hopie was born in 1988 and was raised by Rory.
Earlier in the week, Hopie stunned her social media followers by revealing the results of a 23andMe DNA test that confirmed her long-held suspicions about her paternity. This revelation comes amidst an ongoing conflict between Rory and his eldest daughters, Hopie and Heidi, who have voiced concerns about their younger sister Indiana being exposed to what they describe as an abusive cult.
Rory recounted the moment he received Hopie’s call in a separate blog entry, noting that he had been longing to reconnect with his daughters. “I hadn’t seen either of the girls in a year, and they hadn’t talked to me for more than two sentences at a time,” he shared. He expressed his hope that a meeting with Hopie would lead to a reconciliation, stating, “I just wanted to see her with the hopes that she will realize that we are not enemies… and that I will always love her.”
The father and daughter eventually met at the burial site of Rory’s late wife, Joey, who passed away in 2016. During their conversation, Hopie informed Rory about her renewed relationship with her birth mother over the past two years. She then shared the pivotal news: “I don’t want to hurt you. You should know though that I took the 23 and Me test, and the findings indicated that my father is not like Heidi’s or Indiana’s.”
Rory admitted that he was taken aback by this revelation, especially since Hopie had always believed he was her father, based on what her mother had told her. Hopie explained that she could no longer keep the secret. Rory claimed that the news did not entirely surprise him, recalling a conversation with Tamar after returning from a Marine Corps mission in the Middle East. Tamar had informed him of her pregnancy, during a period of marital difficulties. Rory remembered believing Hopie was born prematurely, only to be told by a doctor that she was past her due date, a timeline that didn’t align with his return from overseas. When he later questioned Tamar, she maintained that Hopie was his biological daughter.
Rory, who raised Hopie and Heidi after his divorce from Tamar in 1992, stated that their birth mother was largely absent from their lives, visiting only twice during their childhood. He reiterated his unwavering love for Hopie, sharing a touching moment when she showed him a photo of her biological father, with whom she had begun communicating. “Neither this news nor this blood test affect me in any way. I will always love you as my daughter,” he told her.
Hopie later shared her perspective on Instagram, expressing her disappointment with Rory’s blog post. She stated that she had only asked him to be kind and not shame her mother. “It is really disappointing that he revealed her personal history on his blog today,” she wrote. Hopie explained that she chose to share her truth because she could no longer keep it secret, despite not being a public figure herself. She also claimed that Rory had been “hostile and scornful” when she came out to him as bisexual privately and later pressured her to allow him to write about it in his book, which she now regrets.
“I just wish my stories could be mine to tell and share from now on,” Hopie stated, expressing her desire to move forward and find happiness. She shared a photo with her biological father, describing their instant connection and the unconditional love she has experienced. “Turns out this is my dad, not the one that everyone knows,” she wrote, adding that they are remarkably alike. She also expressed gratitude for reconnecting with her mother and for the newfound relationship with her biological father.
Rory remarried in 2002 to Joey, forming the successful musical duo Joey + Rory. Following Joey’s tragic passing in 2016, Rory married Rebecca in 2024. Hopie and Heidi were primarily raised by Rory and reconnected with their mother, Tamar, in 2018. Recent public attention has focused on allegations made by Rory’s eldest daughters that he has restricted their access to their 10-year-old sister, Indiana, who has Down syndrome. They have also raised concerns about Indiana’s placement within a community with a history of abuse allegations. Rory has defended his decisions in blog posts, detailing Indiana’s life on their farm and her positive experiences with her stepmother, Rebecca.