Dolly Parton: Rory Feek Shares Touching Personalized Tribute Dolly Sent To Joey [Video]
Dolly Parton sent an ailing Joey Feek a personalized video of encouragement a few months ago, Rory Feek shared on the couple’s blog announcing Joey’s death. Parton, a country music legend, had been an idol of Joey’s since Feek was a child. The Feeks often performed Dolly’s songs.
According to People, Joey Feek succumbed to cervical cancer on Friday at the age of 40 after several months in hospice care. Rory Feek had been documenting Joey’s steady decline on the couple’s blog, and when announcing her death, he stated that Joey had many dreams come true since her diagnosis, but the singer never got the opportunity to meet her idol Dolly Parton in person. In fact, Joey didn’t even think Dolly knew who she was, and then Rory surprised her with the video after reaching Parton and asking for her help.
According to Rory’s post, “From the time she was four years old, Joey had been singing Dolly’s songs and dreamed of one day meeting her. Coat of Many Colors was a regular part of our show and at home she loved to put on Dolly and listen to ‘Hello God’, ‘When I Sing For Him’, ‘Me and Little Andy’ and many others.”
The touching video starts with Dolly thanking Joey for her many years of support as a fan and then Parton reveals to an astonished Feek that she is a fan of hers as well. As Dolly continues, she tells Joey that they share a faith in God and to continue to pray. Parton adds that she will also be praying for her.
Watch it below.
Joey's Dolly from Hickory Films on Vimeo.
Dolly Parton is well known for her support and love of fans. In March 2015, the Inquisitr reported a story on Parton making headlines for singing duets with Gage Blackwell, a young fan with Down syndrome. Gage also met Joey and Rory Feek in January 2015. The video of the interaction between Blackwell and Parton went viral.
In an interview with Billboard, Parton discussed her support of the LGBT community, stating, “They know that I completely love and accept them, as I do all people. I’ve struggled enough in my life to be appreciated and understood.”
Perhaps that’s what makes Parton’s video to Joey Feek even that much more endearing, because she is truly expressing love for someone she has never met.
And just as much as Dolly loves her fans, they adore her. Fans flock yearly to her Dollywood theme park, Parton’s last tour played to sold out audiences all over the United States and Australia, and one time a fan even left a baby at the gate of Parton’s estate with a note saying, “My name is ‘Jolene’. My momma has left me here and wants you to have me.” Dolly, who is childless, said she was stunned and immediately called child services.
Besides the video from Dolly Parton, Joey Feek was able to accomplish a few other things she had hoped to before she left this earth. Rory shared special pictures from Valentine’s Day as well as their daughter Indiana’s second birthday on social media, and the Feeks were also able to get out one last album. Dolly’s video to Joey was done in November, giving the Feeks the opportunity to savor their special moment alone for months before Rory decided to share the memory of Parton’s surprise on Friday with fans.
Although Rory acknowledges this is a time of sorrow as he works through the loss of Joey, Feek points to moments like Dolly Parton’s video as one of the “beautiful moments” he and Joey were able to experience along the way.
[Photo by Larry Bussaca/Getty Images]
