On April 30, 2022, the world lost a beloved icon when Naomi Judd, one half of the legendary country music duo The Judds, passed away at the age of 76. Just weeks before her passing, Naomi and her daughter Wynonna Judd had announced an exciting comeback tour scheduled for fall 2022. Fans everywhere were eager to see the mother-daughter duo back on stage, but fate had other plans. So, what exactly happened to this incredible singer and matriarch?
Naomi Judd's Final Days
Naomi tragically took her own life at her home in Leiper’s Fork, Tennessee. The official autopsy report confirmed that her death was due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This heartbreaking news shocked her fans and family alike. Wynonna and her sister Ashley Judd released a statement shortly after, sharing their deep sorrow with the world. "Today we sisters experienced a tragedy," they wrote. "We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness. We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory."
Just one day after Naomi's untimely death, she was posthumously inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Her daughters, Wynonna and Ashley, attended the ceremony to honor their late mother. Wynonna, visibly emotional, expressed her gratitude and determination to continue her mom's legacy. "I'm gonna make this fast because my heart's broken and I feel so blessed," she said. "It's a very strange dynamic, to be this broken and blessed. Though my heart's broken, I will continue to sing because that's what we do." Wynonna also decided to carry on with the planned fall tour, inviting special guests to join her on stage in her mother's place.
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Unveiling the Suicide Note
Naomi's autopsy revealed that she left behind a suicide note. A photo of this note was later obtained by RadarOnline and made public in January 2023. Written on a yellow sticky note, it read, "Do not let Wy come to my funeral. She is mentally ill." The word "not" was underlined for emphasis. This note added another layer of complexity to the already heart-wrenching situation.
Wynonna's Attendance at Naomi's Funeral
Despite the contents of the note, Wynonna attended her mother's private funeral, which took place on May 7, 2022, in Tennessee. Ashley revealed that Naomi had meticulously planned the entire service before her passing. In addition to the intimate gathering for family and friends, a public memorial was held on May 15, 2022, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Titled "Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration," the event was broadcast on CMT and featured performances by Wynonna, Brandi Carlile, and others.
Naomi's Final Wishes and Legal Matters
Naomi had prepared a will in 2017, naming her husband of 33 years, Larry Strickland, as the executor of her estate. Interestingly, neither Wynonna nor Ashley was included in the legal document. Despite rumors of a feud over the will, Wynonna denied any conflict. "I have such a great life. Ashley has a great life. Why would we be fighting over the will?" she told People in October 2022. Wynonna further clarified that the sisters would divide their mother's estate after Larry's passing. "I am the last person in this family – and if Ashley was here, I’d hope she’d agree with me – who knows stuff like this," Wynonna said. "I’m not savvy enough to go, 'I’m going to contest the will.' It never occurred to me."
Naomi's Battle with Mental Illness
While Naomi wasn't physically ill, she struggled with mental health issues for years. Her autopsy showed traces of prescription medications used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and bipolar disorder. "Our matriarch was dogged by an unfair foe," her family stated. "She was treated for PTSD and bipolar disorder, to which millions of Americans can relate." Naomi had openly discussed her mental health battles over the years. She revealed that her depression worsened after The Judds’ Last Encore tour in 2012, attributing it to suppressed memories of childhood trauma. At that time, she admitted to having suicidal thoughts but refrained from acting on them out of concern for her loved ones.
Naomi was officially diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression, a condition she described as relentless. "Treatment-resistant because they tried me on every single thing they had in their arsenal," she explained. "It really felt like, if I live through this, I want someone to be able to see that they can survive." Her resilience and determination to help others inspired many.
Wynonna's Journey Through Grief
In the November 2024 Hulu docuseries It’s All Country, Wynonna opened up about the overwhelming grief she felt after losing her mom. "When mom died, I felt like I was dying. Every single day. Every breath was heavy and I felt like I couldn’t get a deep enough breath," she confided to Luke Bryan. "You literally feel like I don’t know if I’m gonna make it or not. I thought I was going to die of a broken heart. I literally thought, Luke, that some days when I woke up I couldn’t get out of bed. This was so heavy." Wynonna also recounted seeing her mother's body after her passing and how it motivated her to focus on her own mental health. "It made me work harder at my own mental health because it didn’t work for her. I can’t believe she’s gone," she said.
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Wynonna found solace in creating new music, channeling her pain into her art. "I had to decide, am I gonna complain about this and feel sad, or am I gonna use it to write songs," she revealed. "I just wrote a song called 'Broken and Blessed,' about mom, and I wrote, 'I’m somewhere between hell and hallelujah.' And that’s where I live."
If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional distress or considering suicide, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
