Naomi Judd will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame a day after her death

By Brenda W. Nava Last updated May 1, 2022

The Country Music Hall of Fame was “shocked and saddened” by the death of Judd, CEO Kyle Young said in a statement on Twitter. However, Judd’s family have requested that the induction of mother-daughter duo The Judds continue as planned, he said.

“We will with heavy hearts,” Young wrote.

Judd has died aged 76, her daughters announced on Saturday, hours before the country music legend – half of The Judds, along with daughter Wynonna – was celebrated at the medal ceremony of the Nashville Museum.

It’s unclear how the ceremony might be changed or adjusted in the wake of Judd’s passing. A separate tweet on the Hall of Fame page announced the “Red Carpet Experience” pre-ceremony, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, had been canceled in light of Judd’s death.

In their announcements shared on Twitter, Judd’s daughters Wynonna and Ashley, an actress, wrote that they “lost our beautiful mother to mental illness”.

“We are navigating deep grief and know that as much as we loved her, she was loved by her audience,” her daughters’ statement added. “We are in uncharted territory.”

Naomi Judd shared during a 2016 appearance on “Good Morning America” that she had been diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. That same year, she wrote a book called “River of Time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged with Hope” explaining her struggles.

In its announcement of the 2021 elected membersthe Hall of Fame credited Naomi and Wynonna Judd with helping “bring country back to its roots in the 1980s with lean, melodic songs influenced by traditional folk music, acoustic blues and family harmony acts “.

The mother-daughter duo began performing together as professional actors in the early 1980s, quickly producing a string of major hits like “Mama He’s Crazy” and “Love Can Build a Bridge,” and selling more than 20 million records. Between 1984 and 1991, The Judds won five Grammys and had 14 No. 1 singles, according to the Hall of Fame.

As Wynonna sang the lead, “Naomi provided harmony, wit and a sassy stage presence that engaged the audience,” the Hall of Fame said.

The announcement was updated following news of Judd’s passing, noting, “The Judds’ museum, family and fans, and the entertainment industry are mourning his sudden passing.”

The Judds performed together in public for the first time in years at the CMT Music Awards early last month, singing “Love can build a bridge”. Judd’s death also came shortly after the announcement of The Judds’ 10-date “Final Tour”, which was due to begin in September.

CNN’s Andy Rose and Christina Maxouris contributed to this report.

Naomi Judd will be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame a day after her death

Related posts: