Joey + Rory Earn #1 Record in Country with “Hymns (That Are Important To Us)”
Despite losing last week at the Grammy Awards, despite numerous winners and performers in country music receiving Grammy bumps for their efforts, it isn’t Little Big Town or Chris Stapleton walking away with the #1 album in country this week, it is a traditional country duo recording traditional hymns that takes the week’s top spot.
Hymns (That Are Important To Us) by Joey + Rory sold a surprising 70,000 albums, and 68,000 “pure” albums sales (meaning not taking streaming into account) to become the latest independent country act to land a #1 record on Billboard‘s Country Albums chart. The numbers are also good enough to land the #1 spot on the Top Christian Albums chart, and #4 on the all-genre Billboard 200 chart—the duo’s first Top 10 or Top 5 showing on the chart ever.
The push was enough to dethrone Chris Stapleton at the top of the albums chart where he’s been ensconced for 12 weeks since the CMA Awards in November. Despite a Grammy boost of 60%, and selling 51,000 additional copies of his debut Traveller due to big wins for Best Country Album and Best Country Solo Performance, it wasn’t enough to top Joey + Rory.
The distinction for Joey + Rory comes as Joey Martin Feek lays in a bed at her home in Indiana in the final stages of hospice care. Feek was first diagnosed with cervical Cancer shortly after the birth of the couple’s daughter Indiana in June of 2014. Joey Feek decided to cease her Cancer treatment after receiving a terminal diagnosis in October. Despite Joey’s health continuing to weaken, she has survived to celebrate numerous milestones with her family, including another Valentine’s Day, the release of Hymns, the Grammy Awards where Joey + Rory were nominated for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for their song “If I Needed You,” the recent birthday of their daughter Indiana, and now their first #1 record.
And along for the ride has been fans of country music and beyond, who have found infinite inspiration, hope, and wisdom through the Joey Feek story.
February 22, 2016 @ 9:33 am
Much needed great news for them both at this difficult time.
February 22, 2016 @ 9:37 am
Isn’t it great? Isn’t THIS great? What a great story, headline… everything. Her dream was to record this album and she got to do it. And now for it to be #1… she has to be so happy. Rory too. I love the record. I was the one of many who pre-ordered the album via the Cracker Barrel site.
I’m sad about so many things. I think of her daily. I cry many days. They mean so much to me. But today… I will rejoice in this special time with their music.
Way to go Joey + Rory. Thank you for the country music.
February 22, 2016 @ 9:44 am
I’m very happy for them to get to experience this bit of brightness. To quote the person above me,
“Way to go Joey + Rory. Thank you for the country music. “
February 22, 2016 @ 10:04 am
Yeah I guarantee you Chris ain’t complaining about this.
February 22, 2016 @ 10:24 am
Chris Stapleton gets beat out by Joey + Rory. Jason Isbell beats out Alan Jackson, who beats out Isbell the next week. These are fun competitions to watch. We all win if you ask me.
February 22, 2016 @ 12:34 pm
No I’m just saying, I think Chris might know them enough to be personal friends with them, I guarantee you he probably looked at that chart and tweeted his congratulations to them. (It’s what I would do, personally.)
February 22, 2016 @ 10:27 am
I do love me some hymns.
doesn’t it just make you feel good to know that people are out there who still buy music like this?
February 22, 2016 @ 11:09 am
It’s a beautiful album. Sad to listen to under the circumstances. I’m glad it got to #1.
February 22, 2016 @ 11:33 am
Definitely happy for Joey and Rory. “When I’m Gone” is the song I used to help with my grieving process when my mom passed from cancer 3 years ago yesterday. God bless this amazing couple.
February 23, 2016 @ 10:05 pm
The song was written by a woman who watched her mom slowly pass away. Sandy Lawrence wrote it to deal with the grieving. I’m sure the song will help many.
February 23, 2016 @ 10:07 pm
Thank you for the info Greg.
February 22, 2016 @ 8:46 pm
It’s a wonderful feeling to read this, gives me some much needed hope for this world
February 22, 2016 @ 9:15 pm
Great news!!! I went to pick it up last weekend and they were sold out, I need to go somewhere and get it!! Wonderful people, they deserve all the accolades they get!! God bless them today, tomorrow and all the days after that.
February 24, 2016 @ 11:31 am
I went to buy it last night. Sold out. Lady behind counter said they can’t keep them in stock.
February 24, 2016 @ 4:22 pm
I listened to about half of the album for the first time this morning and sobbed into my coffee. It’s beautiful. I don’t share their certainty about the afterlife but I admire their faith and bravery and just the pure beauty of the music.