Joey + Rory
Joey (left) and Rory Lee Feek (right) in 2010.
Joey (left) and Rory Lee Feek (right) in 2010.
Background information
OriginColumbia, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresCountry, bluegrass, Christian country
Years active2008–2016
Labels
Past members
Websitewww.joeyandrory.com

Joey + Rory was an American country and bluegrass duo composed of singer-songwriters Rory Feek (born April 25, 1965) and Joey Feek (September 9, 1975 – March 4, 2016), who were husband and wife. Both members of the duo were vocalists and songwriters, with Rory also playing acoustic guitar. Rory Lee Feek had written singles for other artists prior to the duo's foundation. The duo was the third-place finalist on CMT's competition Can You Duet in 2008. The duo recorded eight studio albums for Vanguard Records and Gaither Music Group and charted three singles on Hot Country Songs.

History

Before the duo's foundation, Rory Lee Feek worked as a songwriter in Nashville, Tennessee, and continued to work as a songwriter as a member of Joey + Rory. Songs he wrote for other artists include Clay Walker's Top Five hit "The Chain of Love", Blake Shelton's Number One hit "Some Beach", Easton Corbin's "A Little More Country Than That", Blaine Larsen's 2005 hit, "How Do You Get That Lonely", and Jimmy Wayne's 2008 single "I Will". Rory also founded the independent label Giantslayer Records in 2004, on which Joey recorded a solo album entitled Strong Enough to Cry in 2005. This album was released in CD format and digital download in 2006.[1] Rory also recorded a solo album on Giantslayer Records, titled My Ol' Man, which he made available only as a download.

Joey + Rory performed on the CMT competition Can You Duet in 2008, in which they were third-place finalists. Shortly after the competition, they were signed to the independent label Sugar Hill Records. They returned to the Can You Duet stage to perform "Cheater, Cheater" on "Original Song Night" for the series' second season, which aired on July 25, 2009.[2]

2008–2009: The Life of a Song

The duo's debut album, The Life of a Song, was released on October 28, 2008, on Sugar Hill Records.[3] The album debuted at No. 10 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart, and No. 61 on the all-genre Billboard 200. Its lead-off single, "Cheater, Cheater", was originally recorded by the duo Bomshel. Kristy Osmonson, one-half of that duo, co-wrote the song with the Feeks and Wynn Varble. Bomshel's version was released as a single in early 2008, although it did not chart. Joey + Rory's version was released in September 2008, featuring a music video that included a cameo from Naomi Judd, who had been a judge on Can You Duet.[4] Joey + Rory's version peaked at No. 30 on the country music charts in early 2009. The duo has also appeared in television commercials for the online retailer Overstock.com in late 2008.[5] In February 2009, the duo was nominated for the Academy of Country Music Awards Top Vocal Duo.[6] Although a cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" was originally to have been released as the second single, it was withdrawn after two weeks, and replaced in March 2009 with "Play the Song", which failed to chart. The album's third single, "To Say Goodbye", was released to radio on July 27, 2009, debuting at number 54 as Billboard Magazine's "Hot Shot Debut" on the "Hot Country Songs" chart.[7]

Joey + Rory released their first holiday single, the Carl Jackson-produced "It's Christmas Time," on November 16, 2009, to country radio and November 24, 2009, to digital retailers.[8] The single was released in partnership with CMT One Country, which donated a portion of proceeds from the single to various charities (including The Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee).[8] Additionally, Rory Feek, along with Tim Johnson, created the Song Trust, under which an album of Christmas songs performed by children, titled Merry Kidsmas, was released.[9]

2010–2011: Album Number Two

Joey + Rory (2010)

Joey + Rory announced on October 15, 2009, that they were in the studio working on the follow-up album to The Life of a Song. The album, titled Album Number Two, was announced in January 2010 and released on September 14, 2010. The lead-off single, "This Song's for You", was released to radio in July 2010; originally "That's Important to Me" had been chosen, but the single choice was changed. The music video for "This Song's for You" was directed by Darren Doane and was released in August 2010. "That's Important to Me" was released as the album's second single in October 2010. It debuted at number 58 on the Hot Country Songs chart for the week ending February 12, 2011.

On March 16, 2010, it was announced that the duo were the winners of the 2010 Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Vocal Duo, and would compete alongside Luke Bryan and Gloriana for the Top New Artist award.[10] Joey + Rory performed new songs from their upcoming album, were interviewed, and received their award on the GAC special "ACM Top New Artists" on April 1, 2010.[10]

2011–2012: A Farmhouse Christmas and His and Hers

On August 29, 2011, Joey + Rory released a new single, titled "Headache," to country radio, though it failed to chart and was not included on an album. Joey + Rory released their first Christmas album, A Farmhouse Christmas, on October 11, 2011.[11]

Joey + Rory's third studio album, His and Hers, was released on July 31, 2012. "When I'm Gone" and "Josephine" served as the album's first two singles and were simultaneously released to radio before the album,[12] though neither charted. In late 2015, due to a spike in sales for "When I'm Gone" after the video was featured in some press about Joey + Rory, it managed to enter the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart at number 21.

2013–2016: Final recordings

Joey + Rory announced on the red carpet of the ACM Awards that the duo had recorded their first album of gospel music. Joey Feek told Billboard that "It's kind of an inspirational album, of old gospel songs that I grew up singing and listening to my mom sing.... It’s an album I’ve wanted to do for a long, long time."[13] The album, Inspired: Songs of Faith & Family, was released on July 16, 2013, via Gaither Music Group. It debuted at number 166 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 3,000, while also peaking at number 31 on the Top Country Albums chart and at number 6 on the Top Christian Albums chart.[14]

After the release of their Gospel album, Joey + Rory announced that they would be releasing their fifth studio album, Made to Last, in late 2013 via their own Farmhouse Recordings record label (their first self-released project). Made to Last was released on October 8, 2013, and debuted at No. 44 on the Top Country Albums chart. Their sixth studio album, Country Classics: A Tapestry of Our Musical Heritage, was released exclusively to Cracker Barrel in May 2014, with a wide release following on October 14, 2014. Their second project on Gaither Music Group, the record consists of cover versions of classic country songs.[15]

Hymns That Are Important to Us, the duo's seventh and final studio album, was released on February 12, 2016, via Gaither Music Group.[16] The set, which was a "dream project" for Joey Feek, consists of twelve covers of Christian hymns, plus a reprise of "When I'm Gone," which was first featured on the duo's His and Hers album in 2012. Some proceeds of the album's deluxe edition will go towards the Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Foundation, a charity selected by Joey Feek in honor of her daughter's friend who has Loeys-Dietz syndrome. Hymns That Are Important to Us debuted at the top of the Billboard Top Country Albums and Top Christian Albums charts, with first week sales of 68,000 copies, making it their highest-charting release and the duo's best sales week ever.[17]

Rory Feek wrote and produced a film, Josephine, which was set in the American Civil War and included the couple's song of the same name. .[18] It was shot at the Nathan Bedford Forrest Boyhood Home, the childhood home of Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest owned by the Sons of Confederate Veterans in Chapel Hill, Tennessee.[19] The film later debuted at the Nashville Film Festival in summer 2016.[20]

Joey was diagnosed with cervical cancer in late 2015 and died of the disease in March 2016.[21]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications Sales
US Country
[22]		 US
[23]		 US
Indie
[24]		 US
Christ
[25]		 CAN
[26]
The Life of a Song 10 61 — — —
Album Number Two
  • Release date: September 14, 2010
  • Label: Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records
  • Formats: CD, vinyl LP, music download
 9 60 11 — —
His and Hers
  • Release date: July 31, 2012
  • Label: Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 24 112 19 — —
Inspired: Songs of Faith & Family
  • Release date: July 16, 2013
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
  • Formats: CD, music download
 27 126 — 6 —
Made to Last
  • Release date: October 8, 2013
  • Label: Farmhouse Recordings
  • Formats: CD, vinyl LP, music download
 44 — — — —
Country Classics: A Tapestry of Our Musical Heritage
  • Release date: May 2014 (Cracker Barrel)
    October 27, 2014 (wide release)
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
  • Formats: CD, music download
 13 199 — — —
Hymns That Are Important to Us
  • Release date: February 12, 2016
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
  • Formats: CD, music download
 1 4 — 1 40
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Holiday albums

Title Details Peak chart
positions		 Sales
US Country
[22]		 US
[23]		 US Holiday
[31]
A Farmhouse Christmas
  • Release date: October 11, 2011
  • Label: Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 59 181 24

Compilation albums

Title Details Peak chart
positions		 Sales
US Country
[22]		 US
[23]		 US
Christ
[25]
The Album Collection
  • Release date: April 1, 2016
  • Label: Vanguard/Sugar Hill Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 10 192 —
The Singer and the Song: The Best of Joey + Rory[34]
  • Release date: September 21, 2018
  • Label: Gaither Music Group
  • Formats: CD, music download
 — — 9
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Sales Album
US Country
[36]		 US Bubbling
[37]		 US Christ
[38]
2008 "Cheater, Cheater" 30 23 — The Life of a Song
2009 "Play the Song"[41] — — —
"To Say Goodbye" — — —
2010 "This Song's for You" (with Zac Brown Band) — — — Album Number Two
"That's Important to Me" 51 — —
2011 "Headache"[42] — — — —
2012 "When I'm Gone" 21 10 — His and Hers
"Josephine"[44] — — —
2016 "It Is Well with My Soul" — — 41 Hymns That Are Important to Us
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year Video Director
2008 "Cheater, Cheater"[45] Peter Zavadil
2009 "Play the Song"[46]
"It's Christmas Time"[47] Rory Feek
2010 "This Song's for You" (with Zac Brown Band)[48] Darren Doane/Steven Goldmann
"That's Important to Me"[49] Alan Bunting/Deaton-Flanigen
2011 "Headache"[50] Bryan Allen/Steven Goldmann
"Let It Snow (Somewhere Else)"[51] Rory Feek
2012 "When I'm Gone"[52] Deaton Flanigen
"Josephine"[53] Gabe McCauley/Eric Welch
2013 "Gotta Go Back" (with Josh Turner)[54] Rory Feek/Gabe McCauley

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Result
2009 Academy of Country Music Awards Top Vocal Duo[55] Nominated
Country Music Association Awards Vocal Duo of the Year[56] Nominated
2010 Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Vocal Duo of the Year[57] Won
Top Vocal Duo of the Year[57] Nominated
Top New Artist[57] Nominated
Country Music Association Awards Vocal Duo of the Year[58] Nominated
2011 Academy of Country Music Awards Top Vocal Duo of the Year[59] Nominated
Inspirational Country Music Awards Vocal Duo[60] Won
Mainstream Inspirational Country Song – "That's Important to Me"[60] Nominated
Mainstream Country Artist[60] Nominated
2016 Grammy Awards Best Country Duo/Group Performance – "If I Needed You" Nominated
Academy of Country Music Awards Vocal Duo of the Year Nominated
2017 Grammy Awards Best Roots Gospel Album – Hymns That Are Important to Us Won

References

  1. ↑ "Strong Enough To Cry". Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  2. ↑ "Can You Duet 206 "Original Song Night" – 3". CMT. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Artists: Biography - Joey & Rory". Archived from the original on September 15, 2008. Retrieved August 23, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Joey + Rory – Cheater Cheater – Music Video – CMT". CMT. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Parton, Chris (2008-09-15). "Joey & Rory Will Be Back on TV". CMT. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  6. ↑ Gilbert, Calvin (2009-02-11). "Brad Paisley, Heidi Newfield Top List of ACM Nominees". CMT. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
  7. ↑ Billboard Magazine, July 27, 2009
  8. 1 2 "rodeoattitude.com redirect". rodeoattitude.com. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  9. ↑ "Joey + Rory put focus on the song with the Song Trust". Archived from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  10. 1 2 "Luke Bryan, Gloriana, Joey + Rory Win ACM Awards, Move To Next Round". MusicRow – Nashville's Music Industry Publication – News, Songs From Music City. 16 March 2010. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "Joey + Rory To Release Christmas Album in 2011". Roughstock. Archived from the original on December 2, 2011. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  12. ↑ Wyland, Sarah (May 31, 2012). "Joey + Rory to Release His and Hers July 31". Great American Country. Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  13. ↑ Brandle, Lars (April 9, 2013). "Joey + Rory Finish New Gospel Album". Billboard. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Country Album Chart News: The Week of July 24, 2013: Travis Tritt, Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton, Hunter Hayes, Mud Digger 4". Archived from the original on October 5, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Country Classics: A Tapestry of Our Musical Heritage". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  16. ↑ Stefano, Angela (January 12, 2016). "Joey + Rory Announce 'Hymns That Are Important to Us' Deluxe Edition". The Boot. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  17. ↑ Jim Asker (February 23, 2016). "Joey + Rory's Bittersweet 'Hymns' Debuts at No. 1 on Top Country Albums Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Rory Feek's 'Josephine' Brings Civil War Love Story to Theaters" Archived 2017-12-02 at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone, By Stephen L. Betts April 18, 2016
  19. ↑ Bliss, Jessica (August 18, 2017). "Meet the caretaker of Nathan Bedford Forrest's boyhood home in Tennessee". The Tennessean. Retrieved December 2, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Joey Feek Dead at 40 After Battling Cervical Cancer". eonline.com. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  21. ↑ "Joey Feek Dead at 40: Joey + Rory Country Singer Remembered as Loving Mom After Battling Cervical Cancer". E! Online. March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
  22. 1 2 3 "Joey + Rory Album & Song Chart History: Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  23. 1 2 3 "Joey + Rory Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Joey + Rory Album & Song Chart History: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved September 23, 2010.
  25. 1 2 "Joey + Rory Album & Song Chart History: Christian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Joey + Rory Album & Song Chart History: Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  27. ↑ Matt Bjorke (August 6, 2014). "Country Album Sales Report – August 6, 2014". Roughstock. Archived from the original on August 8, 2014.
  28. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (April 11, 2016). "Country Album Sales Chart: April 11, 2016". Roughstock.
  29. ↑ "American album certifications – Joey + Rory – Hymns That Are Important to Us". Recording Industry Association of America.
  30. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (November 26, 2017). "Top Country Catalog Sales Chart: November 26, 2017". Roughstock. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
  31. ↑ "Holiday Albums". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2011.
  32. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (December 14, 2016). "*Special Report*: Country Catalog Chart for December 14, 2016". Roughstock.
  33. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (February 14, 2017). "Top 10 Country Albums Chart: February 13, 2017". Roughstock.
  34. ↑ "Joey+Rory's THE SINGER AND THE SONG Offers Duo's Hits and Unreleased Material". Broadway World. September 6, 2018.
  35. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (July 18, 2019). "Top 10 Country Albums: July 15, 2019". Roughstock. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  36. ↑ "Joey + Rory Album & Song Chart History: Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  37. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2011). Top Pop Singles 1955–2010. Record Research, Inc. p. 459. ISBN 978-0-89820-188-8.
  38. ↑ "Joey + Rory Album & Song Chart History: Christian Songs". Billboard. Retrieved February 16, 2017.
  39. ↑ "RIAA – Searchable Database: Joey + Rory". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
  40. 1 2 Bjorke, Matt (March 15, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Singles Report: March 15, 2016". Roughstock.
  41. ↑ "Play the Song". Roughstock. 27 February 2009. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  42. ↑ "'Headache' single". iTunes Store. January 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  43. ↑ Bjorke, Matt (March 20, 2016). "Top 30 Digital Country Singles Chart: March 20, 2016". Roughstock.
  44. ↑ "Josephine by Joey + Rory". Country Music Life. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  45. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Joey & Rory : Cheater, Cheater". Country Music Television. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  46. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Joey & Rory : Play the Song". Country Music Television. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  47. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Joey & Rory : It's Christmas Time". Country Music Television. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  48. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Joey & Rory : This Song's for You". Country Music Television. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  49. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Joey & Rory : That's Important to Me". Country Music Television. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  50. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Joey & Rory : Headache". Country Music Television. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  51. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Joey + Rory : Let It Snow (Somewhere Else)". Country Music Television. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  52. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Joey & Rory : When I'm Gone". Country Music Television. Retrieved June 15, 2012.
  53. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Joey + Rory : Josephine". Country Music Television. Retrieved November 14, 2012.
  54. ↑ "Gotta Go Back" – JOEY+RORY with Josh Turner. Vimeo. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  55. ↑ "2009 ACM Awards Nominees (Complete List)". zimbio.com. Retrieved August 20, 2010.
  56. ↑ "2009 CMA Awards Nominees". acountry.com. 10 September 2009. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  57. 1 2 3 "CMT : ACM Awards 2010". Country Music Television. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  58. ↑ "2010 CMA Awards Nominees – The Boot". The Boot. August 31, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2010.
  59. ↑ "Academy of Country Music Award nominees". ACM Country. Archived from the original on March 23, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  60. 1 2 3 "Carrie Underwood, Justin Moore + More Nominated for 2011 Inspirational Country Awards". Taste of Country. Retrieved September 3, 2011.
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