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DNA Bombshell: Rory Feek’s Daughter Opens Up About Painful Family Rift

BBG News

In simpler terms, Rory Feek’s daughter, Hopie Feek, disclosed that she has a tense connection with him due to the fact that he is not her true biological parent.

Hopie, nurtured under Rory’s care, revealed startling information to her online audience on Wednesday, disclosing that the results from a 23andMe genetic testing service supported her long-nurtured doubts.

In response to the recent disclosure, Rory, aged 59, expressed his thoughts in a blog entry. He reminisced about his personal uncertainties throughout the years and shared recollections of discussions with Hopie’s doctor immediately following his six-month military service in the Marines when she was born.

Nevertheless, Hopie, aged 36, labelled his post as ‘very disheartening’ through a string of Instagram messages, expressing disapproval towards him for disclosing private family matters and allegedly embarrassing her mother.

On Tuesday, she expanded on her feelings, saying Rory’s blog made her feel ‘unwanted.’

She shared with People on Tuesday that his post implied her mother was dishonest and suggested she didn’t want to be part of our family. Additionally, it was painful for her to hear him express frustration upon learning about her birth, as if she had always been unwelcome.

36-year-old Hopie revealed on February 8th that the man she’s known as her biological father isn’t the well-known country singer; instead, it’s a different individual referred to as BC. The country singer had raised Hopie and her sister Heidi, 38, following their parents’ separation, with their mother being his former wife.

Yet, she made it clear that the tension between her and Rory is not due to the findings from the DNA test results.

As I shared with the publication, my bond with my father has been shattered, not due to recent disclosures, but because he steadfastly declines to participate in family counseling sessions.

Disclosing to him two sensitive aspects of my life (my coming out to him and revealing that we’re not biologically related), which he then made public, has left us in a difficult situation that requires guidance from a qualified expert to navigate.

In her statement, Hopie disclosed that the biological father she’s known as BC, not Rory, was the one who gave her life. Rory, who raised both Hopie and her older sister Heidi (aged 38), is not her biological father, having parted ways with their mother before they were brought up together.

In spite of encountering negativity online lately, she shared with People that she finds comfort in her deepening connection with BC and the supportive community she’s joined, consisting of individuals with similar backgrounds.

She clarified, “It’s truly heartening to discover that I’m not the only one going through this. Many others have encountered something comparable during their DNA tests.

Discovering shared traits with my biological parents, like our love for huskies, brings me joy. Moreover, both BC and my mother are exceptional individuals! The healing process may take time, but I have a strong network of supportive people by my side.

Hopie, born in 1988, and her elder sister Heidi, aged 38, are the daughters of Tamara Gillmor. Tamara was married to Rory from 1985 until their separation in 1992.

Hopie (born in 1988) and her 38-year-old sister Heidi are daughters of a woman named Tamara Gillmor. She was married to someone called Rory, but they separated in 1992 after being together since 1985.

This past week, Hopie, previously brought up by Rory, posted on social platforms about an unexpected revelation she had uncovered, revealing that the findings from a 23andMe DNA test matched her long-held beliefs.

The latest update arrives during a persistent conflict between Rory and sisters Hopie and Heidi, who claim he subjected their younger sibling Indiana to an abusive cult environment.

In my latest post on ‘A Different Dad’, I shared an interesting moment where I hoped beyond hope that it would be either Hopie or Heidi giving me a call, and just as I was thinking that, my phone buzzed and there was Hopie’s name on the screen.

It had been over a year since I last saw either girl, and our conversations were limited to just a few words. So, when Hopie’s name appeared on my phone screen, it seemed like a welcome response to my prayers.

The musician continued, expressing, ‘I was clueless about the topic of our conversation. Frankly, it made no difference to me. All I desired was to be in her presence. To catch a glimpse into her eyes and for her to return my gaze, hoping she might comprehend that we aren’t adversaries. And that I harbor deep affection for her.’

Looking back now, it’s hard not to believe that my wish has been granted, although it manifested in a form I didn’t anticipate.

The two went on to meet at a cemetery where Rory’s late wife Joey, who passed in 2016, is buried. 

Later on, Hopie shared with him that she and Heidi had grown quite close to their biological mother since they rekindled their relationship over the last two years.

Rory learned from his daughter that she had discovered through a 23andMe test that her biological father isn’t the same as Heidi and Indiana, whom he believed were his daughters. She wanted to make him aware of this fact without causing distress, explaining that she doesn’t want to cause any harm.

Rory said he was ‘not expecting to hear that.’

Hope continued to share, her voice cracking with sobs, that her mother had revealed to her there was another person, whom she believed was her father.

Later, she clarified to Rory, “You aren’t my father.” Hopie had been aware of this fact for some time and felt the need to share it, explaining, “I can’t hold onto this secret any longer.

Meanwhile Rory said that although he didn’t know, the news didn’t ‘completely surprise’ him.

Later on, he shared the tale of his journey back to the U.S. as a Marine from Japan following a tour in the Middle East, and revealed that she had informed him about her pregnancy during their challenging marital period.

Rory believed Hopie had been born early since she came ahead of her expected delivery date. However, when he commented about her prematurity to the doctor, he learned that she was actually late and overdue instead.

“I explained to him that she couldn’t possibly be late since I returned from Japan in the second week of January… For a moment, both the doctor and I were silent, looking at each other uneasily, as I tried to calculate the dates in my mind. Eventually, he spoke up, ‘I’m sorry, but there isn’t much I can say except… this baby is significantly overdue.’

He later asked her mother if she was his biological daughter, and was told that she was.

In 1992, four years after Hopie’s birth, Tamara and her husband parted ways, leading them to divorce. Subsequently, Rory took on the responsibility of raising the daughters. He mentioned that they met their birth mother only twice following her departure during their upbringing.

Reminiscing about a heartfelt encounter with Hopie, I can still hear myself saying, “I declared indifference towards the recent developments and the test results. For me, nothing alters my affection. ‘You will forever be my daughter, and that love remains unchanged.’

I shared with you that I recently reconnected with my biological father, and we’re now taking steps to get better acquainted. To illustrate this, I displayed a picture of him for your viewing pleasure.

As I sat next to my thirty-six-year-old daughter on a park bench, she displayed a photo on her phone, revealing a stranger who had recently been identified as her biological father. Such is the peculiarity of life, Rory mused.

In the course of reminiscing, I remembered those two instances when our mother graced us with her presence during our childhood years. The first time she arrived, Hopie and Heidi were approximately 7 and 9 years old. By then, she had welcomed another child into the world. Although we were eager to meet our mother, the encounter felt more like meeting an aunt or someone we’d only heard tales about, rather than a bond we personally shared.

Another visit happened when they were in high school, after he was already with his late wife Joey.

Later on, she had a few children and appeared content with her life, which she could take pride in. Fortunately, I shared that sense of fulfillment as well, he penned down.

Reflecting on my recent discovery, I find myself feeling deeply disheartened and saddened that it took me thirty years to uncover this truth. However, my primary emotion is empathy towards Hopie, as the reality of the situation has left me with a profound sense of compassion for her experiences.

It’s clear to me this will be a challenging situation for her. Navigating through something that seems illogical or hard to grasp. Discovering that the identity you thought was yours, and the connections tied to it, may not align with what you’ve been told all your life.

Regarding Hopie’s mom, I too feel a deep pain, knowing she bore this secret throughout the years. The thought of the struggle she endured, and the bravery it took for her to reveal the truth, is something I can only begin to fathom.

Looking back on everything now, I no longer blame her mother for not telling Hopie or me about this earlier. I believe she must have had good reasons for it. At that time, she was young and I hope she did her best given the circumstances and the person she was then.

I concluded my recent post expressing gratitude for the opportunity to continue growing and becoming a more exceptional father, even at this stage of my life.

Hopie shared her frustration with the blog post on her Instagram.

She said her only request during her conversation with Rory was to ‘be kind and not shame my mom.’

Today, he revealed her personal past on his blog, which was quite upsetting to her. She chose to disclose her experiences as she felt it was too much to keep hidden any longer. Although she isn’t comfortable in the public eye, due to Rory’s popularity, her private life is frequently used as material for his followers (who can sometimes be harsh online).

She later admitted that disclosing her bisexuality to Rory was something she now regrets, because she believes he exploited this personal detail in order to boost his book sales.

Initially, when I confided in him about my bisexuality privately, he reacted with hostility and prejudice. Later on, he persuaded me to allow him to include it in his book. Now, I wish I hadn’t. When his book was published, he garnered a great deal of admiration and support, while I faced the opposite – more hate from his readers. The things he wrote about my sexuality in that chapter continue to cause me pain.

Hopie inserted an audio excerpt from the 2018 memoir Once Upon a Farm, in which he discusses her personal aspects related to sexuality, that he narrated himself.

She expressed her desire in a post, saying, ‘I’d prefer if I could personally narrate and disseminate my tales from now on.’ She also shared her intention to advance towards joy with the ones who care for her deeply, distancing herself from the malicious comments online.

When she disclosed the astonishing fact that Rory isn’t her biological father, Hope explained: “Many of you have come to know me primarily through my family’s narrative. Now, I understand why I’ve sometimes felt out of sync with them.

‘So I took a 23andMe DNA test and I got the results I never knew I needed.’  

Hopie subsequently posted a photograph of herself and her true father, both beaming in front of the camera. As she put it, “It appears that this is my father, not the one who’s commonly recognized.

She mentioned that the two of them have grown incredibly close and become well-acquainted during the past six months, finding it peculiar that they share so many similarities. (BC refers to her name initials)

Hope confessed that she spent time tracking down BC online when she explained: “In less than a day after locating him on Facebook and sending him a message, he was standing at my front door, simply wanting to give me a warm embrace and make our acquaintance.

‘I’ve never experienced unconditional love like that before.’

She then continued: ‘There’s so much more love to my story than I ever thought there was.

Last year, I managed to get back in touch with my mother, and she’s simply marvelous. It’s heartwarming to discover the depth of her affection for me and her longing to be involved in my life, although circumstances never allowed it before…

Hope expressed: “I’ve discovered a father I didn’t know I had, who shows nothing but affection for me and is thrilled to address me as his daughter.

Later on, she expressed her feelings as follows: ‘I’m deeply thankful for everything that has happened lately, including the wonderful individuals I’ve met and the loving family who accepts me for who I truly am.’

Rory remarried in 2002, and started a successful music duo with new wife Joey.  

From 2008 to 2016, the Grammy-winning duo produced around six albums and TV shows, and sold approximately a million records, as stated on the Homestead at Hardison Mill’s website. This property is Rory’s restored historic farm, residence, and performance venue, situated south of Nashville.

Joey tragically passed at age 40 in March 2016 following a battle with cervical cancer.

In 2024, it was Indiana, their daughter, who granted Rory the authorization to marry his new spouse, Rebecca, with her approval.

Rory married Rebecca, his daughter’s schoolteacher, in Greycliff, Montana on July 14.

Hopie, Heidi, and Rory used to live together as children, but they have only recently reunited with their mom, Tamara.

Following Hopie’s revelation about her bisexuality, Rory openly acknowledged in the year 2018 that accepting this aspect of her identity was indeed a test for his religious beliefs grounded in Christianity.

Currently, there’s been a lot of attention surrounding the musician and his oldest child as they allege an unexpected situation: he is preventing them from visiting their 10-year-old sister with Down Syndrome.

In my personal perspective, I’ve found myself at the center of a controversy as my eldest daughters have chosen to take legal action against me. They’ve disclosed that I reside within an agrarian Christian commune affiliated with Homestead Heritage, which has recently faced scrutiny following allegations of child sexual abuse from one of its members.

Heidi asserted on Instagram that her father entrusted their 10-year-old sister, who has Down Syndrome, to a group known for a history of physically and sexually abusing children.

In her writing, it was expressed that Indiana, who requires specific care, should reside in an secure and consistent setting where her welfare takes precedence above all else.

Approximately three weeks past, Rory published a blog entry justifying his actions and offered an in-depth look into the lifestyle on their farm in central Tennessee, mentioning they engage in activities such as baking, preserving foods through canning, and pickling various items, with occasional pickleball games thrown in.

He continued to enhance the enjoyment on Indy’s farm in Indiana: Over the past six weeks or so, Indy has affectionately started referring to Rebecca as ‘Mama’, and they’ve been having a blast with fifth-grade homeschooling together.

The post ended by asking people to keep his youngest child away from any conflict – implying that it is his older children who are causing her pain the most.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that contrary to popular belief, the one who is suffering the most due to everything that’s happening is our youngest family member, our dear daughter.

Since legal proceedings are still underway, it’s important to note that specifics about the filing are kept private, given that Indiana is a minor.

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2025-02-19 01:51

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