Often times, Nashville goes to great lengths to sell you on how ‘real’ an artist is. Sometimes they’re not quite as genuine as they are advertised to be…but then again, sometimes they really are.
When you see husband & wife duo Joey+Rory, you don’t need to be told that what they have is genuine. Just listen to their music or listen to them talk and you can tell that what they have is the real deal…not just as a musical duo, but as a couple. The deep connection they have doesn’t just shine through their music, it’s the reason their music shines.
Which is why their newest album, aptly titled Album Number Two, wasn’t born from the success of their 2008 debut. It’s actually the result of a night in Nashville ten years ago, when a gorgeously gifted singer named Joey walked into an ‘In The Round’ songwriters performance. Between finding her seat and the end of the show, she felt drawn to the man onstage simply through his songs. While she wasn’t able to meet him that night, she did two years later and over a cup of coffee, she told the songwriting single-dad exactly how she felt. A few short months later, she wasn’t just a singer named Joey anymore. She was Mrs. Rory Feek.
For the next 5 years, Joey and Rory lived a simple but glorious life reveling in their roles as husband & wife on the farm where they reside in Pottsville, TN. Joey fell right into place as Mom to Rory’s two daughters as she continued her quest for a solo career, eventually recording an album for Sony that was never released. Rory continued to build his status as a hit songwriter punching out chart-topping songs like Blake Shelton’s “Some Beach,” Clay Walker’s “The Chain of Love,” and most recently Easton Corbin’s #1 hit “A Little More Country Than That” along with cuts by Kenny Chesney, Randy Travis, Collin Raye, Reba and many others.
But in 2008, their quiet life changed after they reluctantly auditioned for a reality TV show, CMT’s Can You Duet Season I, at the urging of a co-writer.
“There was not an ounce of me that thought ‘Here is this beautiful woman and great singer in Joey, but throwing in her 42-year-old, overall-wearing husband will be the magic combination,’” Rory says with a laugh. But it was magic. Joey+Rory became fan favorites ultimately finishing 3rd and landing a record deal with Vanguard / Sugar Hill Records.
Their debut album The Life Of A Song quickly spawned a Top 30 hit with “Cheater Cheater” and in the blink of an eye, the duo was everywhere…touring coast-to-coast and overseas. Their success with radio/video airplay and album sales propelled them into several nominations for both industry and fan-voted awards, including winning the 2010 ACM Award for Top New Vocal Duo.
The quick success was not something the couple anticipated, as they hadn’t thought of their life together as extraordinarily compelling. Fans across the country thought differently. “The response to the first album has been amazing,” reflects Joey, “Now, I can’t wait for them to hear our new record.”
Album Number Two is built in much the same manner as The Life Of A Song not because it was a successful formula, but because those are the kind of songs these two like to hear. According to Rory, while he has had success writing songs for other artists, teaming up with Joey has allowed him the freedom to become a different kind of songwriter. At the same time, the pairing has unleashed Joey’s full potential as a singer as well.
“As a songwriter you have to imagine being somebody different every time you write a song, but the magic of being an artist is you get to be you, to write what you want to say…and I have never had the chance to do that before. I’m not sure Joey ever got to be herself either because there were always teams of people telling her how to dress, not to sing about this and so on. There is none of that anymore. We are 100% ourselves here.”
That freedom is paying off in spades for them. Rory is quick to point out that most of the decisions are led by Joey. In his eyes, “This is her dream,” he says, “I just get the best seat in the house to watch it happen!” As much as they are a duo both onstage and in life, he’s happy to be the man standing just outside the spotlight so that the world can focus on his songbird of a wife.
Led primarily by Joey’s honey-laden vocals, Album Number Two covers all the bases from their signature tongue-in-cheek style of the title cut to “That’s Important To Me,” a song that encapsulates the down-to-earth values that define Joey+Rory both as a couple and a duo alike. There are songs about love (“Born To Be Your Woman”), about cheating (“God Help My Man”), and about faith (“Where Jesus Is”). Songs about cowboys (“All You Need Is Me”), horses (“The Horse Nobody Could Ride”), and about fame (“Farm To Fame”). Most striking however, is the album’s lead single, a working man’s anthem and a tip of the hat to country music fans and concert-goers, “This Song’s For You” featuring the Zac Brown Band that Rory wrote on a tour bus with Zac Brown.
Not all of the songs on Album Number Two are newly written, which ironically is another product of having been turned loose of any inhibitions or corporate direction. A prime example is “My Ol’ Man,” a song resurrected from Rory’s files that is so powerful it punches you in the heart with little more than bare-knuckle lyrics and a lush piano.
Through a mixture of traditional country flavor and new millennium marketing, including corporate sponsorships, reality TV and a national ad campaign with Overstock.com, Joey+Rory have built an impressive fan base and won CMA & ACM nominations and awards their own way.
“TV exposure is unique,” notes Joey. “Not only do people hear our voices, they get to look into our eyes and see who we really are, on a deeper level. A lot of our fan base comes from people who seem to relate to our story and how we interact.
“It’s such a blessing to get to play music and travel and see things we’ve never been able to see before. But the highlight of it all is being able to do it together.”
With Album Number Two tucked firmly under their arms, Joey+Rory are headed out with the same intent they had the first time around.
“Our plan is the same as it’s always been - to show up, do what we do and hope that magic will happen,” says Rory. “As hard as we work, we ultimately know that God’s plans are a lot bigger and better than we can make ourselves. Just having the chance to record and release ALBUM NUMBER TWO is proof of that!”
That's Important To Me
Joey + Rory Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Payin' our bills and stayin' out of debt
That's important to me
That's important to me
Openin' the windows and lettin' in air
Holdin' hands when we're sayin' a prayer
That's important to me
Havin' somebody to share my life
Loving my husband and bein' a wife
And the very best mother I can be
That's important to me
Tellin' the truth and bein' real
And feeding my family a home cooked meal
That's important to me
That's important to me
Plantin' a garden and watchin' it grow
Keepin' it country on the radio
That's important to me
Yeah that's important to me
Always havin' you to hold
Bein' beside you when we grow old
And they'll plant us 'neath that big oak tree
That's important to me
Always havin' you to hold
Bein' beside you when we grow old
And they'll plant us 'neath that big oak tree
Believin' our dreams,
Still bein' ourselves if we ever get there
That's important to me
That's important to me
Yeah, that's important to me
Hm that's important to me
The song "That's Important To Me" by Joey + Rory is all about the values and priorities that are important in life. It emphasizes the simple pleasures of life that can easily be overlooked, such as not planning your day around the TV, paying bills and staying out of debt, and opening windows to let in fresh air. The lyrics also focus on the importance of having relationships with others, whether it be holding hands while praying, loving your spouse and being a good parent, or having someone to grow old with and be buried beside. The song essentially argues that success is not about big achievements or material possessions, but about finding joy in the little things that create a meaningful life.
Line by Line Meaning
Not plannin' my day around the T.V. set
I value spending my time productively instead of being glued to the television all day.
Payin' our bills and stayin' out of debt
Financial stability is important to me and I prioritize responsible spending and avoiding debt.
That's important to me
I prioritize these actions and values in my life.
Openin' the windows and lettin' in air
I appreciate fresh air and prioritize letting it into my home.
Holdin' hands when we're sayin' a prayer
I value connection and intimacy, even in religious practices.
Havin' somebody to share my life
I value companionship and having someone to share both big and small moments of my life with.
Loving my husband and bein' a wife
I prioritize my marriage and loving my spouse, and take my role as a wife seriously.
And the very best mother I can be
I prioritize being a good mother and doing my best to support and care for my children.
Tellin' the truth and bein' real
I value honesty and being genuine in my words and actions.
And feeding my family a home cooked meal
I prioritize providing fresh, homemade meals for my family's health and enjoyment.
Plantin' a garden and watchin' it grow
I value cultivating my own food and watching things grow from my own efforts.
Keepin' it country on the radio
I enjoy country music and prioritize listening to it on the radio.
Always havin' you to hold
I prioritize physical touch and having my partner nearby for emotional support.
Bein' beside you when we grow old
I prioritize growing old and spending my life with my partner.
And they'll plant us 'neath that big oak tree
I value a peaceful, natural final resting place for me and my partner.
Believin' our dreams,
I prioritize having dreams and aspirations for the future.
Still bein' ourselves if we ever get there
I prioritize staying true to myself even if my dreams and aspirations change over time.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., OLE MM
Written by: TIMOTHY JON JOHNSON, RORY LEE, JOEY MARTIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@voiceofanangel1978
i love her music, and what a inspiration she still gives even from the heavens
@ConvictIncTvShow
The truth is I lost what’s important to me and this song gives me inspiration
@ponnotiki4737
Tragic ending for everybody who loved her. but God loved her most of all. Happy she is in the kingdom of the holy father . I want to take this time to thank Rory for sharing their story on his blog for her fans like me and my family. One last prayer is for Indiana to grow and know just how much her mother absolutely adored her. Rest In God's loving care Joey.
@ruthb6243
I've always loved hearing them sing together! Joey had the soft voice of an angel, and her voice is always so comforting to hear even now. She put up a great fight trying to be cured; but, it wasn't meant to be. The cancer was already stage 4 when it was discovered, which was such a shame. She and Rory were in the prime time of their music careers, and their newborn Indiana joined their family. As long as their songs are played on the radio, Joey Feek will continue to live on in our hearts, as well as the hearts of her families who miss her dearly! Joey, may you continue singing in God's choir, and someday, we will be there to sing with you! You're an amazing and wonderful person! ❤🙏
@vkaye722
That Lil girl has it
Beautiful
🥰🥰🥰🥰
@paulac.6114
Amen, Beautifully written from your heart ❤️
@kathywalker1995
An absolute wonderful inspiration to so many. I've listened to their music for years. The music amazing. Their words of life is an inspiration.
@classicrocker889
I just saw them sing this song on TV and fell in Love with this Song because now and days you never hear about Home Cooked Meals any more .
@HALFKUT1
RIP Joey. Thank you both for helping me realize what's important to me. Stay strong Rory. Some people will be together 40 years and never know the kind of love you shared. Thank you for being brave enough to share your story with us.
@susansmith8310
Hi