Hopie Feek, the daughter of country singer Rory Feek, has publicly expressed regret over her decision to allow her father to include her coming out story in his 2018 memoir, Once Upon a Farm. In a heartfelt statement shared on February 8, Hopie revealed that Rory, 59, is not her biological father, a fact she discovered recently through a 23andMe test. Despite being raised by Rory alongside her sister Heidi, 38, Hopie now feels that he exploited her personal story for book sales.
Hopie, 36, opened up about how Rory initially responded to her coming out as bisexual nearly a decade ago, recalling that he was “hateful and judgmental.” She also stated that Rory later persuaded her to let him write about their conversation for his book. Reflecting on the fallout, Hopie noted that while Rory received overwhelming support, she faced negative backlash from his fans, which still hurts.
In the book, Rory recounts their conversation, describing how his conservative Christian beliefs led him to judge Hopie’s relationship. Although he admitted to saying things he regretted, Rory ultimately wrote that he chose to love Hopie and her partner. Hopie now believes that her father used her story to gain attention and promote his book, and she wishes to move forward without public scrutiny.
The Feek family has also been embroiled in a legal dispute over the custody of 10-year-old Indiana, with Hopie and Heidi seeking time with their younger sister after being estranged from her for months. The legal battle remains ongoing.
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