Introduction
SPECIAL NEWS: On Her 50th Birthday, Rory Feek Breaks Down at Joey’s Grave — A Quiet Moment of Love, Loss, and Unending Devotion
Country music fans around the world returned their thoughts this week to the deeply emotional story of Joey Feek and her husband Rory Feek as he marked what would have been her 50th birthday with a heartfelt tribute that touched thousands. Joey, beloved for her voice, spirit, and grace, passed away in March 2016 after a courageous battle with cervical cancer at the age of 40.
On September 9, Rory and his 11-year-old daughter, Indiana — whom they shared together — visited Joey’s gravesite in Tennessee. In a quiet, emotional moment captured in an Instagram Reel shared by Rory, the pair placed flowers and remembered the love that continues to define their family’s story. Rory was joined by his current wife, Rebecca, whom he married in July 2024, offering a poignant picture of both continuity and remembrance.
“Today would be Joey’s 50th birthday,” Rory wrote in the caption accompanying the tribute video. “As we remember and lift her up on this special day, I feel incredibly grateful for the life with her that I got to be part of — for the amazing music, example and especially the love she left behind — inside our little girl Indiana, in me, and in others.”
The video also featured a song by songwriter Tim Menzies about love that outlasts loss, underscoring Rory’s belief that Joey’s influence lives on not just in memories but in the people she loved most.
Fans of the award-winning duo Joey + Rory were moved by the gesture — a reflection of how deeply the couple’s story has resonated over the years. Joey and Rory had recorded music together, shared performances on national television, and chronicled their life on their farm in online blog posts that deeply connected them with their audience during her illness.
While grief remains part of the narrative, Rory’s tribute was also an expression of gratitude — a reminder that even in sorrow there can be peace and thanks. “Because I knew what love was,” Rory wrote, “I am able to know what love is, and experience the beautiful life and story we are part of now.”
For many, that is the enduring legacy of Joey Feek: love that endures, not only in song, but in the daily life of a family continuing forward with both sorrow and joy.