“You know, it’s great to do into a cattle trailer and
what you love for a living, but headed to Nashville, to
it’s a whole different game to work for another horse
get to do it with the one you vet. Who would believe
love.” Sounds like a terrifi c this would lead to her
line for a country song! meeting Kix Brooks (of
“But how realistic are those Brooks & Dunn) and
lyrics?” you might ask. Well, Wilbur Rimes (father of
in this case, they’re absolutely Lean Rimes). Soon she
accurate and spoken with was working full time
feeling by Rory Feek. For at the Rimes’ horse
Rory and wife Joey Martin, barn and becoming
real life is indeed a country more involved in the
song. This talented husband Nashville music scene.
and wife duo burst into the
Vivienne Scott certainly has a fl air in discovering

public’s awareness last year
on CMT’s hit series, Can
great Country singers. After Sean Hogan and Jake
The couple’s separate
paths converged in
You Duet. However, they had
Matthews, her latest fi nd is the duo Joey & Rory.
2001 when Joey saw
been living a true country life Rory perform. “His
from their early childhoods. songs felt like home.
That fi rst night I saw
Joey grew up in Alexandria, Indiana, as the In addition Rory has written major hits such him playing at the Bluebird Cafe, he was
middle child of a family of fi ve. Meanwhile as Clay Walker’s ‘The Chain of Love’, Collin speaking my language. Those were the only
Rory was encouraged by his Dad, an aspiring Raye’s ‘Someone You Used to Know’ and the kinds of songs I wanted to sing”. In response,
country music singer, who passed along his mega Line dance hit, Blake Shelton’s ‘Some Rory noted that “Joey’s musical gift completes
passion to his son. In 1995, ex marine Rory Beach’. His songs have also been recorded mine, her voice makes the words I write come
took over his father’s dream and headed off to by Kenny Chesney, Randy Travis, Terri Clark, to life.” In 2002 they were married.
Nashville in his Chevy 56. Mark Wills, Reba McEntire, Waylon Jennings,
Lorrie Morgan, Buck Owens, John Michael It was in 2008 that a friend persuaded
Rory found success as a song-writer fairly Montgomery and Charlie Pride. However, the couple to compete on the new CMT/
quickly and eventually set up a joint company, Rory didn’t follow through on a singing career; American Idol TV show. They were an
‘State One Music Publishing’ with his long time he noted that “I quickly realized it was a beauty instant success, with Naomi Judd, one of the
friend and songwriting partner Tim Johnson. In contest, and it was a game I wasn’t willing to judges, telling them “No matter what anyone
2002 Rory and Tim discovered, funded and co- play, and one I wouldn’t win”. tells you, never change what you are doing.”
produced Blaine Larsen’s incredibly successful “That was the moment that cemented
debut album. Rory also co-wrote Blaine’s single Joey is a country girl through and through and [the collaboration] for us,” Rory says. Joey
‘How Do You Get That Lonely. Their Company got a job as an assistant veterinarian while at continues: “I grew up singing [The Judds’]
became a major success and they now have six the same time singing in a band and as a solo ‘Mama He’s Crazy’ with my mom, and I had
writers on staff and an offi ce on Music Row. artist. In 1998 she packed all her belongings so much respect for Naomi. She confi rmed
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