Introduction
THE SONG THAT KEPT HER CLOSE, EVEN AFTER GOODBYE
Some songs are written for a moment. Others become a compass for a lifetime.
For Rory Feek, That’s Important to Me became something far greater than a beloved song. It evolved into a quiet reminder of the values he and his wife, Joey, built their life around—faith, family, gratitude, and the simple beauty of everyday moments.
When Joey was alive, the song reflected the dreams they shared together. It celebrated a life filled not with fame or fortune, but with meaningful things: coming home to loved ones, treating others with kindness, and holding tightly to the beliefs that guide the heart. After her passing, those words took on an even deeper meaning.
In the years that followed, Rory continued moving forward while carrying Joey’s memory with him. Through grief, change, and new chapters, the message of the song remained constant. Each time he sings it, it feels less like a performance and more like a conversation with the life they created together.
There is no dramatic spectacle in That’s Important to Me. No soaring production or flashy moments. Its power lies in its honesty. The song speaks to something universal—the realization that the most valuable parts of life are often the simplest: sharing a meal with family, offering a helping hand, keeping faith during difficult seasons, and finding comfort in the place we call home.
For countless listeners, that sincerity is exactly why the song continues to resonate. It reminds us that happiness is not always found in extraordinary achievements but in the quiet blessings that surround us every day.
And for Rory Feek, the song remains a living testament to Joey’s legacy—a gentle reminder that love does not disappear when someone is gone. It continues through the values they leave behind, the memories they create, and the lessons that quietly guide us long after the final goodbye.
Sometimes the songs that last the longest are not the loudest ones. They are the ones that tell the truth. And sometimes, the most important truths are whispered, not sung.
Video
Lyric
Not plannin’ my day around the T.V. set
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
Yeah 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…