In the midst of her fight with terminal cancer, the 40-year-old country singer shares memories closest to her heart of her beloved husband…
While there have been a seemingly endless number of ups and downs since they received news of her 2014 diagnosis, Joey is not letting any of that bring her down and is instead looking back fondly on the memories she’s shared with her loved ones, and especially, Rory.
The other half of the country duo, Rory, spoke with PEOPLE about the new outlook his beautiful bride has come to accept during this harrowing time.
“As Joey has had to learn to come to terms with what is happening to her body and what the future holds, it’s been important to her to share some things that she wants me and our girls to remember after she’s gone…”
With that mindset, Joey has opened up and shared many moments of their 13-year marriage and how much Rory means to her.
Some of the most magical moments for the talented and loving couple are shared with musical projects they have accomplished. Their upcoming final album, Hymns & Stories That Are Important To Us, has been her most passionate project to date. The album will be released February 12, 2016 – exclusively at Cracker Barrel Restaurants.
Recalling the first time she laid eyes on her would-be husband, Joey says,
“Rory was singing ‘In The Round’ at the Bluebird Cafe in Nashville with three other songwriters. I was just one of dozens of people in the audience that night. From the first time Rory sang, I fell head over heels for him.”
Of that fateful day in 2002, the beautiful songstress touchingly remembers, “I didn’t even know him, but something inside me said, ‘You’re going to marry that man and spend the rest of your lives together.’“
And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Together, they have achieved more than they ever imagined such as breakthrough successes on the country charts, a great benefit concert series, and of course – their bouncing baby girl, Indiana.
The endless love between the two shines in Rory as he spends every minute he can with her, and listens to her every word, while documenting their memories on his blog, This Life I Live.
“I’m 10 years older than Joey and I always knew that when I get old or if something were to happen to me, Joey would be there beside me no matter what,” he explains. “No matter how hard it was, no matter how I looked or what we faced, she would be there. But I never dreamed that the roles might be reversed and life might require those things from me.”
This love story is so incredibly beautiful, it’s hard not to tear up when you read about these two good people that have encountered a path that is unbelievably difficult.
We are keeping Joey + Rory in our prayers and thoughts.
Watch the video below of their heartwarming and joyful interview at the 2009 CMA Country Fest.
