01of 18
1986
Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Born on Jan. 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky, Naomi Judd welcomed daughter Wynonna when she was 18 years old. Four years later she gave birth to daughter Ashley and enrolled herself in nursing school in California, before moving her family back to Kentucky and later Nashville, where she and Wynonna landed a recording contract together as country duo The Judds,according to a PBS profile.
02of 181987Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn 1987, Naomi took her girls to the Academy of Country Music Awards, where she and Wynonna won their fourth of what would eventually be seven top vocal duo awards.“The good news is, I raised two very creative, strong-willed, expressive, passionate women,” Naomi toldAARPthe Magazinein 2007, adding, “The bad news is, I raised two very creative, strong-willed, expressive, passionate women.”
02of 18
1987
In 1987, Naomi took her girls to the Academy of Country Music Awards, where she and Wynonna won their fourth of what would eventually be seven top vocal duo awards.
“The good news is, I raised two very creative, strong-willed, expressive, passionate women,” Naomi toldAARPthe Magazinein 2007, adding, “The bad news is, I raised two very creative, strong-willed, expressive, passionate women.”
03of 18
1991
William Campbell/Sygma via Getty
Together, Naomi and Wynonna had 20 top 10 singles — 15 of which were No. 1 hits — before they released their last full original studio album,Love Can Build a Bridge,in 1990. They followed it up in 1991 withGreatest Hits Volume Two.
After Naomi was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 1990, the pair went on a farewell tour that, according toYahoo,was the “top-grossing tour of that year and was the most successful musical event in cable pay-per-view history.” It was the unofficial end of Naomi’s career, though there was much more to come.
04of 181994George Rose/GettyIn 1994, the mother-daughter pair reunited at the Super Bowl halftime show.
04of 18
1994
George Rose/Getty
In 1994, the mother-daughter pair reunited at the Super Bowl halftime show.
05of 181994Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn 1994, Judd attended a taping ofRebaalongside fellow country music star, Reba McEntire.McEntire used a similar photo to memorialize her late friend on May 1, 2022,writing, “We’ve been down the long road together. I sure miss my buddy. Rest In Peace. Finally. Love you Naomi.”
05of 18
In 1994, Judd attended a taping ofRebaalongside fellow country music star, Reba McEntire.
McEntire used a similar photo to memorialize her late friend on May 1, 2022,writing, “We’ve been down the long road together. I sure miss my buddy. Rest In Peace. Finally. Love you Naomi.”
06of 181996Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via GettyIn 1996, Naomi arrived on the back of a convertible alongside Billy Ray Cyrus during the 43rd Annual Boomtown Western Gala in L.A.
06of 18
1996
In 1996, Naomi arrived on the back of a convertible alongside Billy Ray Cyrus during the 43rd Annual Boomtown Western Gala in L.A.
07of 181999Naomi, Ashley and Wynonna Judd in 1999.Robin Platzer/Twin Images/GettyIn 1999, Naomi and Wynonna attended the premiere ofDouble Jeopardyto support Ashley, who starred in the film.“Ashley and I are so stinking much alike,” Naomi told Robin Robertsin 2016. “We have the same mannerisms. We both read a whole lot. We both love new places. There’s such similarities.”
07of 18
1999
Naomi, Ashley and Wynonna Judd in 1999.Robin Platzer/Twin Images/Getty
In 1999, Naomi and Wynonna attended the premiere ofDouble Jeopardyto support Ashley, who starred in the film.
“Ashley and I are so stinking much alike,” Naomi told Robin Robertsin 2016. “We have the same mannerisms. We both read a whole lot. We both love new places. There’s such similarities.”
08of 182004Carlo Allegri/GettyThe singer was also an accomplished author. She wroteLove Can Build a Bridgein 1995,Naomi’s Breakthrough Guidein 2004 andNaomi’s Guide to Aging Gracefullyin 2007. She also releasedthree children’s books.In 2016, she releasedRiver of Time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged with Hope,in which she was candid about her experience with mental illness.
08of 18
2004
Carlo Allegri/Getty
The singer was also an accomplished author. She wroteLove Can Build a Bridgein 1995,Naomi’s Breakthrough Guidein 2004 andNaomi’s Guide to Aging Gracefullyin 2007. She also releasedthree children’s books.
In 2016, she releasedRiver of Time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged with Hope,in which she was candid about her experience with mental illness.
09of 182004Evan Agostini/GettyIn 1989, Naomi married Larry Strickland, once a backup singer for Elvis Presley.In Naomi’s 2007AARPprofile, Strickland joked, “Sometimes a poor old country boy like me can get lost in Juddville. All three of the women are strong, emotional, tell-it-like-it-is individuals.“Here, the longtime loves in 2004 at the 27th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
09of 18
Evan Agostini/Getty
In 1989, Naomi married Larry Strickland, once a backup singer for Elvis Presley.
In Naomi’s 2007AARPprofile, Strickland joked, “Sometimes a poor old country boy like me can get lost in Juddville. All three of the women are strong, emotional, tell-it-like-it-is individuals.”
Here, the longtime loves in 2004 at the 27th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
10of 182007Jemal Countess/WireImageFrom 2005 to 2007, she hostedNaomi’s New Morningon the Hallmark Channel.
10of 18
2007
Jemal Countess/WireImage
From 2005 to 2007, she hostedNaomi’s New Morningon the Hallmark Channel.
11of 182008Barry Brecheisen/WireImageThe mother-daughter duo returned to the stage again in 2008 at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio, California.
11of 18
2008
Barry Brecheisen/WireImage
The mother-daughter duo returned to the stage again in 2008 at the Stagecoach Country Music Festival in Indio, California.
12of 182010Steve Exum/GettyNaomi shared a tender moment with Maya Angelou at the luminary’s 82nd birthday party in North Carolina in 2010.
12of 18
2010
Steve Exum/Getty
Naomi shared a tender moment with Maya Angelou at the luminary’s 82nd birthday party in North Carolina in 2010.
13of 182010Sipa/ShutterstockThe Judds reunited again for the Last Encore Tour in 2010.
13of 18
Sipa/Shutterstock
The Judds reunited again for the Last Encore Tour in 2010.
14of 182011Rick Diamond/GettyIn 2011, The Judds took home the CRB (Country Radio Broadcasters) 2011 Career Achievement Award at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.
14of 18
2011
Rick Diamond/Getty
In 2011, The Judds took home the CRB (Country Radio Broadcasters) 2011 Career Achievement Award at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville.
15of 182013Paul Redmond/GettyNaomi returned to Hallmark Channel in 2013 for theHome & Family Holiday Special.
15of 18
2013
Paul Redmond/Getty
Naomi returned to Hallmark Channel in 2013 for theHome & Family Holiday Special.
16of 182015Isaac Brekken/GettyThe Naomi and Wynonna reunions continued in 2015 when Mom and daughter kicked off their brief Girls Night Out residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas.Afterward, Naomi told Robin Roberts,the two took a “break.““Through the decades, we kind of grew up together and I’m always telling her, ‘If I’d known better I would’ve done better,’ " Naomi said. “Wy bore the brunt of all of the mistakes I made and we talk about ‘em. We’ve been through a lot of therapy together.” The two grew apart during the filming of their 2011 OWN reality seriesThe Juddsand their final tour.
16of 18
2015
Isaac Brekken/Getty
The Naomi and Wynonna reunions continued in 2015 when Mom and daughter kicked off their brief Girls Night Out residency at The Venetian in Las Vegas.
Afterward, Naomi told Robin Roberts,the two took a “break.”
“Through the decades, we kind of grew up together and I’m always telling her, ‘If I’d known better I would’ve done better,’ " Naomi said. “Wy bore the brunt of all of the mistakes I made and we talk about ‘em. We’ve been through a lot of therapy together.” The two grew apart during the filming of their 2011 OWN reality seriesThe Juddsand their final tour.
17of 182018David Livingston/GettyNaomi appeared on Hallmark’sHome & Familyin 2018, two years afteropening up about her depression to Robin Roberts.“What I’ve been through is extreme. My final diagnosis was severe depression,” she shared. “Treatment resistant because they tried me on every single thing they had in their arsenal. It really felt like, if I live through this I want someone to be able to see that they can survive.““They see me in rhinestones, you know, with glitter in my hair, that really is who I am,” she said. “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.“Her condition landed her several stays in psychiatric wards and on different medications — which she said caused her hands to shake and her face to swell up “like a balloon.”
17of 18
2018
David Livingston/Getty
Naomi appeared on Hallmark’sHome & Familyin 2018, two years afteropening up about her depression to Robin Roberts.
“What I’ve been through is extreme. My final diagnosis was severe depression,” she shared. “Treatment resistant because they tried me on every single thing they had in their arsenal. It really felt like, if I live through this I want someone to be able to see that they can survive.”
“They see me in rhinestones, you know, with glitter in my hair, that really is who I am,” she said. “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.”
Her condition landed her several stays in psychiatric wards and on different medications — which she said caused her hands to shake and her face to swell up “like a balloon.”
18of 18
2022
Terry Wyatt/WireImage
Just one day later, Wynonna appeared in Nashville forthe pair’s induction into Country Music Hall of Fame.
“I’m gonna make this fast because my heart’s broken — and I feel so blessed,” Wynonna told the 800 people gathered in Nashville’s CMA Theater for the induction ceremony. “I mean, it’s a very strange dynamic to be this broken and this blessed.”
source: people.com
