Country Music Singer Reveals Daughter's Devastating Health Crisis
Entertainment
Country Singer Rory Feek Reveals 12-Year-Old Daughter Requires Open-Heart Surgery
(Photo by Ethan Miller/ACMA2010/Getty Images for ACMA)
Leena Nasir Entertainment Reporter June 23, 2026 12:49 PM ET June 23, 2026 12:49 PM ET Leena Nasir Entertainment Reporter Font Size:Country singer Rory Feek revealed that his 12-year-old daughter, Indiana, will undergo open heart surgery Wednesday morning in Austin, Texas.
Her procedure will treat a ventricular septal defect, a small hole in her heart that has been present since birth, according to a statement shared on Feek’s substack. Feek told fans that around half of babies born with Down syndrome have heart issues. Some time after Indiana’s birth, medical staff told them there was hope that the hole in her heart would close on its own over time.
Unfortunately, that was not the case for his daughter, according to Feek’s post.
“I don’t want the surgery Papa,” Indiana said to her famous father through tears.
He told fans he held his little girl as she said, “I want the miracle,” and cried.
“We have been, and are continuing to pray for her miracle,” Feek wrote.
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“We’ve always known that open heart surgery was a possibility. But this last appointment in January confirmed that it was something that was going to be needed to be done, sooner than later,” Feek wrote in his statement.
He continued, “To look at her, Indiana is as healthy and happy as can be. She often gets winded when she’s running and playing with other kids and doesn’t have the stamina many children her age have, but overall her health has always been pretty much perfect, with no outward physical signs of concern.”
Feek told fans that Indiana’s cardiologist confirmed that her current condition is not currently life threatening, but that it could affect her quality of life as well as her life span if it isn’t fixed.
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“And so here we are,” he said. “Getting ready for a difficult next few weeks and months for Indiana. It’s not where we’d like to be, but we’re truly thankful to be here surrounded not only by a competent surgical team and medical center, but lots of dear friends and family who love and are praying for her.”
He noted that “The hardest part so far has been helping Indy get emotionally ready for what’s coming. Preparing her for something that’s going to be very hard on her. Hard on all of us, especially her Papa, to see her go through so much difficulty and pain.”
“But I also know that when it’s done, it’s going to make her life better.”
LAS VEGAS – APRIL 17: Recording artist Rory Feek of the duo Joey + Rory performs during the Academy of Country Music all-star concert at the Fremont Street Experience April 17, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The famous singer visited two children’s hospitals before deciding to proceed with surgery at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, according to his post.
Indiana will spend approximately 10 days in hospital, and will recover at home for six to eight weeks after the procedure.
Feek has surrounded his daughter with the love of family and friends and has spent some time taking her on fun adventures as the family braces for the tough weeks ahead.
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“This last couple of weeks and days has also been a time of much prayer for our family. Indy knows well that God can do miracles and so that’s what she has been praying for. We’ve all been praying,” Feek wrote in his statement. (RELATED: Rod Stewart Deeply Inhaled From Oxygen Tank Amid Onstage Health Scare)
“On Sunday morning in church, the whole congregation of more than a thousand prayed for her.”
“The surgery is schedule for this Wednesday morning at 6 am. They said that Indy should be in the operating room for 6 to 7 hours, and then in Intensive Care for about a week,” he said.
“’Lord, bless Indy’s sweet, precious heart…and be with her in these difficult days to come.'”
Feek is a country singer and songwriter, and won a Grammy for Best Roots Gospel Album in 2017.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
