"Softly & Tenderly" from Hickory Films on Vimeo.
If you aren’t acquainted with the country duo Joey + Rory, now is the time to discover them.
The married couple of Joey Martin Feek and Rory Lee Feek, jumped onto the national stage, literally and figuratively, as a music team in 2008 when they appeared on the CMT cable television program Can You Duet. The two finished in third place of the program’s first season. Prior to that, the husband Rory had a successful career writing country songs in Nashville.
While their first single after leaving the program, ‘Cheater, Cheater’, hit the top 40 on the country Billboard charts, that success hasn’t been repeated.
Until now. With your help.
In 2014, Joey was diagnosed with cervical cancer shortly after she gave birth to their daughter, Indiana, who has Down syndrome. This video will likely be her last, unfortunately, as she has “made peace” with stopping treatment and is receiving hospice care at her home in Alexandria, Indiana.
While Joey is hoping to make it to Christmas, and hopefully beyond that for Indiana’s second birthday in February, Joey + Rory fans are trying to give the duo a holiday gift by helping the album and this song, “Softly & Tenderly,” hit number one on the charts.
Let’s do what we can, shall we? It’s a small gesture of support, I know. But it takes a village to raise a child, and there is a young child that needs raising.
To read Rory’s blog, you can find it here.

I kept seeing Joey + Rory trending on social media and had on idea who/what is was about! My thoughts and prayers are with that entire family. Softly & Tenderly is such a sweet song <3
Oh gosh. This gave me goosebumps – the story – their voice. And hits home, hard. My father is currently battling cancer and they took him off chemo as there isn’t anything else they can do for him unfortunately.
This is a beautiful song. I hope it makes it to number one. God please watch over them as they prepare to send Joey to sit at your feet. This song touched my own heart.
This whole story just absolutely breaks my hearts and this is such an easy way to help.
This is the first time that I’ve heard about Joey + Rory & it breaks my heart to know what Joey is going through. I hope that the song reaches number 1.
I had actually just heard about them earlier today.. So sad.
I hope there song can become number 1. That would be really nice for them.
I didn’t know who they were until now. So sad about the cervical cancer. I thought they would be able to cure something like that. My mother came back from stage 4 cervical cancer. Feel so sad for this child.
I keep up with this story as much as I can. It is so sad; as a mother I couldn’t imagine going through this. Hopefully we can get them to #1!
Awwww bless what a sad story, must be so hard for the family. I am not familiar with the couple but will support from here.
This is so heartbreaking! I’m not a huge country fan, but I am a 9 year pediatric cancer survivor, so I can definitely relate to this story!
I’ve been following this story in the news. Sad, yet enlighting as well. Praying for the family.
This is definitely heartbreaking. I never actually heard of this couples songs but then I don’t listen to country too often anymore. I will definitely go and listen to this one.
I had not heard this story before. How sad but what an amazing song and woman.
I keep reading about this story on social media …..so sad.
This is such a heartbreaking story! I’ve been following it for a couple of weeks, and my heart just goes out to this family! I read today that she isn’t able to get out of bed anymore. So sad.
This is the first time that I’m hearing about Joey and Rory and it breaks my heart to know what Joey’s going through. I hope this song reaches #1!
This is so sad. I really hope their song goes really big for them. I pray that she lasts way longer then said. Cancer is such a horrible thing to deal with. Having such a beautiful child to have to leave behind is just such a hurtful thing.
Oh that’s so sad. She’s so young and so beautiful. The hardest thing in the world would be to leave a child. They’re in my prayers.
Aww gosh. I would have never expected such a story is behind in all these… prayers are being sent!
Wow…this is heartbreaking yet truly inspiring. Joey is an amazing woman. What an amazing way to memorialize.
This breaks my heart. That little girl is so tiny and soon she will be without her mother. I hope their song hits #1 on the charts, but if I could wish or hope for anything it would be a miracle and that she would get better for that little girl. I couldn’t imagine knowing that I would be leaving my kids soon.