Joey Feek is nearing the end of her battle with terminal cervical cancer, but still the 40-year-old country singer is making sure her voice will still be heard.
In an emotional interview this week, her husband Rory said that Joey is still using every bit of strength she has to sing to their 22-month old daughter, Indiana.
“Some days when Joey feels good, she will still sing to Indy. ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider,’ ‘Pat-a-Cake, Pat-a-Cake’ or a hymn,” he said in an interview with Today . “And for a few minutes, Joey isn’t a woman dying of cancer connected to a machine with morphine… she’s a mother connected to her baby by love.”
That’s not the only music Joey Feek will be making. Rory also talked about the couple’s upcoming album, which he said will be the last one they ever make and the last songs they will sing together.
“This album is so special to us, especially Joey,” he said. “It’s filled with songs that she grew singing in church and her mother sang to her all through her childhood.”
Though Rory may have another milestone to look forward too — their duo, Joey + Rory, was nominated for a Grammy Award for best country duo/group performance — he did not sound too optimistic about Joey Feek making it that long.
“I’d love to be here holding Joey’s hand, watching the show on TV… and if they called our names as the winner, I want to be able to lean over, look into her eyes and say, ‘Congratulations, honey,’ and give her a long, slow kiss,” he says. “But God only knows where we will be in a month.”
He added, “I can tell you though… win or lose, together or separated by fate… Joey will be right beside me then and every moment before and after that day. If not in person, then in my heart. Always.”
While music has been important to Joey Feek during her final weeks, most of her time has been occupied by family. In the regular updates that Rory posts online, he says that most of Joey’s strength is spent spending time with Indiana and her extended family members.
Back in October, Rory wrote about Joey reluctantly getting a walker to help her around.
“A walker with wheels and a seat was delivered here yesterday,” Rory wrote. “When we pulled it out for her this morning, Joey just laughed and said, ‘I can’t use that… it’s for old people.’ Then she grabbed the handles and pushed herself out of the room.”But Joey Feek soon found a good use for it — giving rides to her daughter.
“When she reached little Indiana playing with toys on the living room rug, she said ‘come on Indy, mama will take you for a ride.’ So I helped Indy onto the seat, and Joey pushed her across the living room, through the kitchen, around the island and table, and back to her toys. Indy grinned ear-to-ear and so did we.”
This has also been very difficult for Joey Feek. On Saturday, Rory shared a hearbreaking story about Joey meeting with her longtime friend, Julie Zamboldi. After the meeting Joey broke down in tears, Rory said.
“As her lips quivered and she tried to catch her breath, the tears streamed down her cheeks and Joey said, ‘I don’t think I will ever see her again.’”
So sad. Terminally ill Joey Feek was “inconsolable” over saying goodbye to her best friend: https://t.co/T7iCtqh9vi pic.twitter.com/pPvw7Emhse
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) January 17, 2016
“I have no desire to go on singing or performing without #JoeyFeek .” MORE: https://t.co/aF767151ph pic.twitter.com/YxJrCHJhXn
— The Boot (@thebootdotcom) January 17, 2016
As Joey Feek continues on in her final days, Rory is preparing for another kind of end. He said that after Joey’s death, he has no desire to continue on with his singing career.
[Image via Rory Feek/ This Life I Live ]