ANNIVERSARY: Today, 9 Years Ago — Rory Feek Released the Deeply Emotional Film “To Joey, With Love”
Nine years ago today, the country music world — and countless hearts across the globe — were forever changed by the release of Rory Feek’s profoundly moving film, “To Joey, With Love.”
Premiering in 2016, this intimate documentary captured the extraordinary true story of Rory and Joey Feek, a husband-and-wife country duo whose journey through love, faith, and loss became one of the most powerful testaments to the human spirit ever told on film.
At its heart, “To Joey, With Love” is not just a movie — it’s a love letter. A letter written from a husband to his wife, from an artist to his muse, and from a believer to the God who guided them both through joy and heartbreak.
The film follows Rory and Joey Feek during the most transformative period of their lives: the months leading up to and following the birth of their daughter, Indiana (Indy) Feek, and the heartbreaking battle Joey faced with terminal cancer. Through home videos, concert footage, and tender narration from Rory himself, viewers are given a rare, unfiltered look into a love that transcended both time and tragedy.
It is, in every sense, a story told through the lens of grace.
When “To Joey, With Love” was released, it wasn’t accompanied by the usual fanfare of Hollywood premieres or celebrity red carpets. Instead, audiences gathered quietly in theaters, churches, and community halls — watching with tearful reverence as the story unfolded. Many left those screenings forever changed, deeply moved by the way Rory and Joey turned suffering into something sacred.
From the laughter that filled their Tennessee farmhouse to the final, breathtaking scenes of farewell, the film reminds us that love doesn’t end where life does. It continues — in songs, in memories, in the lives touched by those who’ve gone before.
One of the film’s most unforgettable moments comes near the end, as Rory narrates over footage of Joey singing “When I’m Gone.” Her voice — fragile yet strong — feels like a prayer set to melody. It’s in that moment the audience understands that this is not just a farewell; it’s a celebration of faith unbroken.
In the years since its release, “To Joey, With Love” has become more than a documentary. It has become a touchstone for anyone who has walked through loss and found hope waiting on the other side. Fans from around the world continue to write letters, share stories, and thank Rory for allowing them to see love in its purest form — love that gives, endures, and believes.
Today, as the world quietly remembers the ninth anniversary of that remarkable film, its message still rings true.
It’s a message about gratitude. About finding joy in the small, fleeting moments. About the power of holding on — and letting go — with equal grace.
As Rory once said, “We didn’t make this film to be sad. We made it to show that love, real love, doesn’t die. It just changes form.”
Nine years later, those words remain a living truth. “To Joey, With Love” continues to remind us that true love never fades — it lives on forever, in the songs we sing, the stories we share, and the hearts that remember.