Naomi Judd died one day before she was set to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Her death was confirmed by her daughters, Ashley and Wynonna Judd.
Ashley and Wynonna released a statement ahead of the ceremony on May 1, 2022, writing, "Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness. We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory."
The sisters decided to band together to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony, where Naomi was set to be inducted alongside Wynonna for their mother-daughter duo, the Judds. Both were visibly upset at the ceremony, but they managed to represent their mother with grace.
Wynonna explained that she wasn't really ready to give a speech, saying, "I didn’t prepare anything tonight because I knew mom would probably talk the most. I’m gonna make this fast, because my heart’s broken, and I feel so blessed. It’s a very strange dynamic, to be this broken and this blessed."
Ashley then took the stage, lamenting the loss of her mother to the community. "My mama loved you so much — and I’m sorry that she couldn’t hang on until today. Your esteem for her and your regard for her really penetrated her heart, and it was your affection for her that did keep her going in the last years, and please come see Pop," Ashley said, referring to Larry Strickland, who is her father and Naomi's husband.
An exact cause of death has not been revealed, but Ashley and Wynonna have directly stated that their mother's mental health played a role in her death. During her life, Naomi was open about her mental state and the struggles she faced.
In 2016, Naomi revealed that her depression was so bad that she rarely left her home. She added that things got worse for her after she and her daughter Wynonna stopped touring as the Judds.
Naomi explained, "[Fans] see me in rhinestones, you know, with glitter in my hair, that really is who I am. But then I would come home and not leave the house for three weeks, and not get out of my pajamas, and not practice normal hygiene. It was really bad. When I came off the tour, I went into this deep, dark, absolutely terrifying hole and I couldn’t get out."
Note: If you or any of your loved ones are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can always reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-8255. They are available 24/7 by phone or online chat.
