Naomi Judd, of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds and mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, passed away on Saturday. She was 76 years old.
Actress Ashley Judd confirmed her mother’s death on Twitter. She did not specify the cause of death, but said: “We lost our beautiful mother to a mental illness.”
Publicity officer Scott Adkins said Judd died Saturday outside Nashville but did not say where it was more specific.
Country music duo The Judds, made up of Naomi and Winona Judd, were due to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday. We just announced their latest tour – and the first together in a decade. It was due to start in the fall.
The mother-daughter duo had 14 singles over a three-decade career.
The Gods’ songs included “Mama He’s Crazy” and “Why Not Me” (both 1984); “Girls Night Out” (1985); “Rockin’ with the Rhythm of Rain” and “Grandpa” (both in 1986); “Turn It Loose” (1988); and “Love Can Build a Bridge” (1990).
They have won nine Country Music Association Awards and seven Academy Country Music Awards. They also won five Grammy Awards for songs like “Why Not Me” and “Give a Little Love”.
The duo stopped performing and recording in 1991, after Naomi Judd learned she had hepatitis.
Mrs. Judd is survived by her two daughters and a husband, Larry Strickland, who was a backup singer for Elvis Presley.
In a press release this month to announce the upcoming tour, Ms. Judd said she is looking forward to reconnecting with fans and singing with her daughter Winona.
Referring to Wynonna, Mrs. Judd said: ‘She asked me if I was still going to screw up, spin and crack jokes.’ I replied, ‘Heck yeah! I’m too old now! “
This obituary will be updated.
“Typical beer trailblazer. Hipster-friendly web buff. Certified alcohol fanatic. Internetaholic. Infuriatingly humble zombie lover.”
