In the wake of the death of country music icon Naomi Judd, daughters Ashley and Wynonna Judd have teamed up with the Ryman Auditorium and CMT to celebrate her life with fans. A public memorial service will air on television for those who can’t be there in person.
Keep reading to find out more about the impacts of Naomi Judd’s death and where and when to see the service honoring her life.
Naomi Judd shared much of her life with her fans
Tragically, the Judd sisters announced to fans that they “lost [their] beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness” at 76 on April 30, 2022. Her death “shattered” them and left them “navigating profound grief,” according to their statement (via Twitter.)
The very next day, the brokenhearted siblings attended a medallion ceremony at the Country Music Hall of Fame. There, industry peers tearfully celebrated Naomi and Wynonna for their impact as The Judds.
Some of the famous matriarch’s stories of living with lifelong depression and mental illness are public knowledge. In 2016, she wrote about them in her memoir, River of Time. And as their mother shared that part of her life with the world, Wynonna and Ashley shared their sadness in how it caused her death.
In a revealing interview with Good Morning America, Ashley disclosed she was home with Naomi when she died by suicide. At first, the Judd family was hesitant to disclose some of the tragic details. But they don’t want Naomi’s death to become the subject of gossip, Ashley explained. So, they chose to share their story hoping that being forthright would discourage rumors.
Now, along with their stepdad, “Pop” Larry Strickland, the Judd sisters invited supporters to celebrate and honor Naomi’s life, either in person or by tuning in to CMT.
Naomi Judd’s memorial service will take place in Nashville, Tennessee and air on CMT
Fans can attend and pay their respects to the country music icon at her public memorial service. That will occur at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, on Sunday, May 15. But if you can’t make the trip, CMT will televise the service as a commercial-free special the same day at 6 p.m. Eastern Time.
“We are sincerely privileged to work alongside Wynonna, Ashley and Larry to present this live celebration of life for their mother and wife Naomi,” shared CMT Producers. “While we all continue to deeply mourn the loss of such a legendary artist, we are honored to commemorate her legacy alongside the country community, her friends, family and legions of fans across the world at the perfect venue: The Mother Church of Country Music.”
“This special will celebrate her timeless voice, unforgettable spirit and the immense impact she left on our genre through the best form of healing we have — music,” they concluded.
Naomi Judd’s memorial service will feature guests like Wynonna and Ashley Judd, Oprah Winfrey, and other stars
So far, the lineup for Naomi Judd’s memorial service includes famous guests like Oprah Winfrey, Bono, and Salma Hayek. Ashley and Wynonna Judd will attend, and Carly Pearce and Cody Alan will host the CMT telecast.
Furthermore, country stars including Brandi Carlile, Ashley McBryde, and Little Big Town will sing in tribute. Other icons from within the broad world of entertainment will also appear at the event to honor the life of Naomi Judd.
How to get help: In the U.S., call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Or text HOME to 741-741 to speak with a trained crisis counselor at the free Crisis Text Line.
How to get help: To connect with mental health resources near you, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website.
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