NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Naomi Judd, whose family harmonies with daughter Wynonna turned them into the Grammy-winning country stars The Judds, has died. She was 76.
Wynonna (her daughter) and Ashley (her son), announced her death Saturday to The Associated Press in a statement.
“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” the statement said. “We are shattered. “We are going through profound grief. We know she loved us, and that her people loved her.” We are in unknown territory.”
Naomi Judd was found dead in Nashville, Tennessee. Larry Strickland made a statement for her husband. The statement stated that no additional details regarding her death will be made and requested privacy for the grieving family.
Country Music Hall of Fame will keep going strong with The Judds’ induction ceremony on Sunday.
“Naomi overcame incredible adversity on her way to a significant place in music history. Her triumphant life story overshadows today’s tragic news,” said Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young in a statement. “Her family has asked that we continue with The Judds’ official Hall of Fame induction on Sunday. With heavy hearts and heavy minds, we will continue to do so. Naomi and daughter Wynonna’s music will endure.”
The band also announced a fall arena tour, which would be their first together for over 10 years.
Mother-daughter singers scored 14 No. In a nearly three-decade long career, the mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. Red-headed bluegrass duo was a combination of traditional Appalachian sounding bluegrass and polished pop stylings. They scored hit after hit in 1980s. Wynonna led with her strong vocals while Naomi offered harmonies on stage and styles.
Also, they made a comeback to the awards show circuit when they played at the CMT Music Awards this month.
“Honored to have witnessed “Love Can Build a Bridge” just a few short weeks ago,” singer Maren Morris posted on Twitter on Saturday.
“This is heartbreaking news! Naomi Judd was one of the sweetest people I’ve ever known,” singer Travis Tritt posted on TwitterNoting his previous collaborations with Judd during performance and onscreen, he said that.
“Country music lost a true legend…sing with the angels, Naomi!!! We’re all sending up prayers for the Judd family today,” singer Carrie Underwood wrote on Twitter.
Following their rise to country music’s top, Naomi Judd was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Wynonna carried on her solo career.
The Judds’ hits included “Love Can Build a Bridge” in 1990,“Mama He’s Crazy” in 1984, “Why Not Me” in 1984,“Turn It Loose” in 1988, “Girls Night Out” in 1985, “Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain” in 1986 and “Grandpa” in 1986.
Naomi Judd was born Diana Ellen Judd. She was living in Ashland in Kentucky when Wynonna and Naomi began to sing professionally. They were distinguished in this genre because of their unique harmony and elements of bluegrass, bluegrass, and acoustic music.
“We had a such a stamp of originality on what we were trying to do,” Naomi Judd told The AP after it was announced that they would be joining the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Naomi Judd, in a March interview to the AP said that she had already begun preparations for the upcoming tour. She was also looking forward the Hall of Fame induction.
“To have all the incredible opportunities that I’ve had, being reminded of all that just makes me very humbled and I just want to bask in the moment,” Judd said.
Wynonna Judd noted that music was what kept Wynonna and her husband together throughout their lives.
“Music is the bridge between mom and me, and it it bonds us together,” she told the AP. “Even in the not easy times.”
Between 1984 and 1991, TheJudds released six albums and an EP. They won nine Country Music Association Awards as well seven Academy of Country Music Awards. They earned a total of five Grammy Awards together on hits like “Why Not Me” and “Give A Little Love,” and Naomi earned a sixth Grammy for writing “Love Can Build a Bridge.”
In 1994, Travis Tritt, Clint Black, and Tanya Tucker also entertained at halftime.
The Judds sang songs about family, marriage and fidelity. The two of them were confused for sisters at the beginning of their careers because Naomi looked young. Her preference for flashy, rhinestone-filled stage clothes was more than casual, cowboy clothing and boots.
They first got attention singing on Ralph Emery’s morning show in early 1980, where the host named them the “Soap Sisters” because Naomi said she used to make her own soap.
After the success of “Mama He’s Crazy,” they won the Horizon Award at the 1984 CMA Awards. Naomi started her speech by saying “Slap the dog and spit in the fire!”
Naomi Judd spoke openly about her struggles with health, severe depression, and anxiety. In her memoir, “River of Time,” she described her diagnosis of hepatitis C, which she said she unknowingly contracted during her time as a nurse. According to her, by 1995 her doctors had confirmed that she was free from the virus.
The memoir describes how she lost her identity and felt helpless after returning from the 2010 reunion tour. She also described panic attacks that caused her to lose control of her body. In her memoir, she also stated that she suffered from trauma from sexual abuse in childhood. The hospital admitted her to a mental ward. She also spent some time in an outpatient program.
Daughter Ashley Judd is an actor and humanitarian known for her roles in such movies as “Kiss the Girls,” ″Double Jeopardy” and “Heat.”
Strickland was 32-years old when he was married to Naomi Judd.
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Kristin Hall is on Facebook https://twitter.com/kmhall
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