Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)

Subject: Obit: Naomi Judd (April 30, 2022)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 22 - 06:52 PM

Naomi Judd, country music matriarch of The Judds, is dead at 76

Her daughter Ashley apparently made the announcement on Twitter, stating only that she died of "the disease of mental illness."

As a member of The Judds with her daughter Wynonna, Naomi Judd recorded and performed as one of the most successful mother-daughter acts in country music before the group stopped performing in the early 1990s. The Judds' hits included 1984's "Mama He's Crazy," which won the group their first Grammy Award, 1985's "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)" and 1990's "Love Can Build a Bridge."

Last year The Judds were announced as inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and were set to be inducted on Sunday. The group had also recently announced a final tour, set to begin in September. "The fans have always been my family of choice," Judd said in a statement announcing the tour. "I love them dearly, so I'm chompin' at the bit to belt out our hits and reconnect with them once again."

Naomi Judd was born Diana Ellen Judd on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Ky. and gave birth to Wynonna the week of her high school graduation. She moved to Los Angeles in the late 1960s, the New York Times reported in a 1984 profile at the beginning of The Judds' rise, where she worked as a model and a secretary before moving Wynonna and her other daughter, Ashley, back to Kentucky. It was then she and Wynonna began singing together casually.

The rest of the obit is at the link.

Subject: RE: Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 30 Apr 22 - 07:58 PM

From the Associated Press:

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 was open about her health struggles, as well as 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. She said that by 1995, her doctors had told her she was completely free of the virus.

Subject: RE: Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 01 May 22 - 12:08 PM

My final post here - I had the impression that, like a lot of singer/songwriter acts that sprung from Appalachia, that the Judds had some roots and background with older traditional music, but I am finding no trace of that (no credit, at any rate) in the biographical sites I've looked at.

Perhaps not the best Mudcat fit, though an acknowledgement of her passing doesn't hurt.

Subject: RE: Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)
From: Tony Rees
Date: 01 May 22 - 02:29 PM

I remember liking them in the early 80s via a UK(?) documentary shown over here (Australia) entitled "new country" (or similar), showcasing some more "roots-based" country artists then emerging - i.e. less glamour, more earth and truth to the form (although that might be a bit ironic in their case). She looked very young to be Wynonna's mum!! In any case, I am sure that the mudcat church is broad enough to encompass them. RIP Naomi.

- Tony

Subject: RE: Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)
From: Tony Rees
Date: 02 May 22 - 04:28 PM

OK, found the details for the BBC documentary mentioned in my last post: "New Country: Gettin' Tough was a 1987 BBC documentary presented by Andy Kershaw who visited Nashville to listen to some of the young writers and performers whose work revives the traditional values of the white man's blues. The programme had interviews and music from The O'Kanes, Randy Travis, Nanci Griffiths, Lyle Lovett, T. Graham Brown, Dwight Yoakam, the Judds and Steve Earle. The programme was produced and directed by Trevor Dunn." (from Andy Kershaw Wiki site).

Worth a look if you can find it - portions on youtube but seem to be just the Nanci Griffith segment(s)...

- Tony

Subject: RE: Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)
From: keberoxu
Date: 08 May 22 - 10:11 PM

An update in People magazine states that the tour scheduled to begin in September, for which some dates were nearly sold out already, is still something that the survivors are looking at.
Without Naomi Judd, the tour evidently won't be what it was planned to be.
However, the update says that those who survive Naomi, such as her two daughters, are considering that fanbase of theirs who have already paid the price of admission, and have thus shown their support;
Wynonna, Ashley, et al. want to make some gesture of appreciation to the concertgoers and fans, and not simply shut it all down.

Which reminds me of an interview, not with Naomi Judd, but with Wynonna, talking about signing autographs for the fans, and responding with indignation,
not at the fans, but at colleagues who would not acknowledge fans:
"They should have their butts spanked!"
(Wonder who taught her that ... actually, I don't wonder.)

Subject: RE: Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 22 - 02:56 PM

A follow-up - a memorial will be broadcast today. What to Watch Sunday: Details on Naomi Judd memorial service, airing live on CMT.

Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration (6 p.m., CMT) - CMT (Country Music Television) will air a memorial service for Naomi Judd, live and commercial-free, from Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. CMT producers are working with Naomi’s daughters, Ashley and Wynonna, and her husband, Larry, to present the service.

Her daughter Ashley was interview last week by Diane Sawyer, and she said that to have some control of the story they decided to reveal her cause of death before it became part of the public record (coroner's office). She apparently shot herself one morning, while Ashley had gone out of the house to greet guests who had come to visit. When she returned indoors she found her mother.

Subject: RE: Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 May 22 - 04:23 PM

Such a sad story. May she rest easy now.

Did Ashley ever perform with the Judds?

Subject: RE: Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 22 - 04:52 PM

Not that I'm aware of. She has made her own mark, though.

Subject: RE: Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 May 22 - 05:48 PM

Joe, to answer your question,
it was a rare occasion when Ashley Judd joined the Judds to sing in public.
They sang together in church, naturally.
There exists a video from some charity auction event,
in which Ashley, Wynonna, and Naomi Judd sang as a trio,
"Good Night the Lord is Coming", something they would have sung in church.
I'll see if I can link to a report or a snippet of video.

snippet of the three Judds

Subject: RE: Obit: Naomi Judd (1946-2022)
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 May 22 - 06:16 PM

Except they said they'd learned it in the bathroom right before the auction. It's kind of what I expected - I've heard Ashley interviewed in the past, where she was asked and never claimed to be one of the musical Judds.