Joey Feek: Country music star dies of cancer at 40, says husband Rory

Country singer Joey Feek, who spent years performing alongside husband Rory Feek in the Grammy Award-nominated duo Joey+Rory, died Friday. She was 40 years old.

Joey, along with her husband Rory, comprised the country music duo Joey + Rory.

The duo was nominated for a Grammy award for best country duo/group performance of their version of “If I Need You” and won an award from the Academy of Country Music for top new vocal duo in 2010. Together, they released eight albums between 2008 and 2016.

Feek underwent surgery in 2015 to treat her cervical cancer that was being treated with chemotherapy and radiation.

Feek is from Alexandria in Madison County. She returned there for her final days.

Rory Feek had been chronicling his wife’s fight in an online blog. In a blog post on Friday, Rory wrote:

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. Joey is in the arms of her beloved brother Justin and using her pretty voice to sing for her savior.

At 2:30 this afternoon, as we were gathered around her, holding hands and praying.. my precious bride breathed her last. And a moment later took her first breath on the other side.

As I held her hand and kissed her goodbye one last time… I was reminded of another dream of hers that came true. A few months ago through gracious help of Kathy Olen, a friend of ours in Nashville, and many others… I had been sent a short video that Dolly Parton had made for Joey.”

In the blog was a video of Joey getting a surprise message from Dolly Parton.

“Joey and Rory, I’ve loved you for years,” said Parton. “I’m sorry that you’re not feeling good, but I know that we have something in common. We both believe in a higher power.”

Rory Feek said he would soon return to Tennessee after more than four months in Indiana.

“You want them to not have to hurt anymore, more that you want them to stay with you. And so, it makes the hard job of saying goodbye just a little easier,” Rory wrote.

Agencies/Canadajournal