Introduction
In this heartfelt live rendition on Country’s Unbroken Circle (also known as Country’s Family Reunion), Rory Feek delivers a deeply emotional version of “The Chain of Love,” a song he co‑wrote that originally became a top‑five hit for Clay Walker in early 2000 . The song, penned alongside Jonnie Barnett, conveys a moving story of kindness and generosity rippling outward through everyday interactions .
Feek, born April 25, 1965 in Atchison, Kansas, emerged as a respected Nashville songwriter in the late 1990s. Before forming the duo Joey + Rory in 2008, he wrote or co‑wrote several country hits—most notably “The Chain of Love” for Clay Walker, which reached No. 3 on Billboard’s Hot Country chart and marked Feek’s second Top‑Five as a songwriter. The song’s path began as a short story by Jonnie Barnett in Chicken Soup for the Country Soul, which the two adapted into song form—based on a real‑life event .
Clay Walker’s recording, released on January 10 2000 from his album Live, Laugh, Love, touched fans deeply. It tells the story of “Joe,” who helps a stranded motorist and encourages her to “continue the chain of love.” She, in turn, extends that kindness to a weary, expecting waitress—revealing in the final verse that the waitress is Joe’s own wife . Walker shared how the song’s emotional resonance sparked strangers to confess it moved them to tears .
When Feek performs “The Chain of Love” live on Country’s Unbroken Circle, he brings the story full circle—authentic, soulful, and unmistakably personal. Stripped down and poignant, his solo delivery highlights the song’s timeless message: one small act of kindness can create a lasting ripple that connects lives. This performance isn’t just a revisit—it’s a reaffirmation of the song’s enduring power and Feek’s gift for storytelling through music.