Naomi Judd, the star of country music and half of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds, has died at the age of 76 after a battle with mental illness.
Her daughter, actress Ashley Judd, announced her mother’s death in a statement on Instagram on Saturday, saying she and her sister Winona were left “broken” by the news.
“Today, we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother due to mental illness. We are broken, “she wrote.
“We are deeply saddened and we know that as much as we loved her, she was loved by her audience.
“We are in unfamiliar territory.”
Naomi’s husband Larry Strickland, who was Elvis Presley’s backup singer, told the Associated Press that his wife had died near Nashville, Tennessee, because he had sought privacy for their family at the time.
No more details are known about the 76-year-old’s death, which comes just one day before she was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and a few months before she returned to the stage later this year.
The Judas, made up of Naomi and her daughter Winona, announced earlier this year that they were embarking on a “final tour” with 10 dates, starting in September.
The duo was also to be honored at the Hall of Fame on Sunday.
Just two weeks ago, they reunited for their first television performance in more than two decades to sing their classic 1990 hit “Love Can Build a Bridge” at the CMT Music Awards.
Ashley Judd announces the death of her mother
(Ashley Judd / Instagram)
When the news of Naomi’s death came out, social media began to pay tribute, with Grammy Award winner Travis Tritt calling the news “heartbreaking.”
“This is heartbreaking news!” “Naomi Judd was one of the nicest people I’ve ever known,” he tweeted.
“I had the honor of working with her in films and many musical events. My deepest condolences to her family. “
Maron Morris also paid tribute to the country music star, recalling her last performance before her death.
“It’s an honor to witness ‘Love Can Build a Bridge’ just a few weeks ago,” the singer wrote.
“I am very sad to hear that Naomi Judd has died. Rest in peace. I send love and light to Ashley and Winona and everyone who loves her, “tweeted Rosana Arquette.
In 2017, Naomi talks about her battle with mental illness and how her depression often makes her feel “immobilized.”
“I haven’t been off my couch in two years,” she told NBC’s Today.
“I was so depressed that I couldn’t move … It’s hard to describe. You go down into that deep, dark hole of depression and you don’t think there’s another minute. “
Born in Kentucky, Naomi began as a nurse before she and Winona began performing together as The Judds in the early 1980s.
They won five Grammy Awards and had 14 number one songs, including the popular country hits “Mama He’s Crazy” and “Why Not Me”.
After three decades of performance, the mother-daughter group came to light in the spotlight in 1991, when Naomi was diagnosed with hepatitis.
In 2011, they returned with a farewell tour before reuniting earlier this month at the CMT Music Awards.
Naomi leaves behind her two daughters and her 32-year-old husband.
If you are experiencing suffering and isolation or struggling to cope, the Samaritans offer support; you can talk to someone for free on the phone, confidentially, at 116 123 (UK and ROI), send an email to jo@samaritans.org or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you live in the United States and you or someone you know needs mental health help right now, call the National Suicide Prevention Helpline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The hotline is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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