Tragedy struck the Judd family on April 30 after the matriarch Naomi Judd died at the age of 76. One half of the country music duo The Judds, Naomi was known for her legendary hits, including “Mama He’s Crazy” and “Love Can Build a Bridge.”
This event comes one day before Judd and her daughter Wynonna Judd were supposed to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame for their contribution to the industry. Both mother and daughter began performing on stage as a professional act in the 1980s and would ultimately sell over 20 million records.
According to the Country Music Hall of Fame, prior to the group’s disbandment in 1991 following Naomi’s diagnosis with hepatitis C, The Judds won five Grammys. They also found success on the Billboard charts having 14 singles taking the number 1 spot. The Judds recently performed at the CMT Music Awards and were scheduled to embark on a ten date “Final Tour” later this year.
Although details surrounding Naomi’s untimely passing have yet to be released, her daughters, Wynonna and actress Ashley Judd gave insight into how her history with mental illness contributed to her demise.
The statement that the sisters provided to Associated Press read, “Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. 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.”
In the past, Naomi has been very vocal about her struggles with depression and anxiety. During a 2017 interview with the TODAY show, the singer disclosed that her battle with mental illness was so severe that she considered committing suicide.
She told the outlet, “I didn’t get off my couch for two years. I was so depressed that I couldn’t move… My husband (Larry Strickland) and my girlfriends and Ashley would come over and I would just go upstairs and lock the door to my bedroom… You become immobilized.”
Naomi also informed TODAY that she had undergone electroconvulsive therapy or “shock” therapy to balance the chemicals in her brain after going through treatment.
A year before her suicide admission, Naomi provided details on the factor contributing to her depression, including childhood sexual abuse. Naomi, who was molested at 3-years-old by a relative, revealed she had to rely on herself because immediate family members weren’t there to help her.
In an interview with “Good Morning America” co-host Robin Roberts, Naomi said, “I had to realize that, in a way, I had to parent myself. We all have this inner child, and I needed, for the first time in my life, to realize that I got a raw deal. OK, now I’m a big girl. Put on your big girl pants and deal with it.”
At the time of the interview, which previously aired in December 2016, Naomi’s husband, Larry Strickland, advised those dealing with family members suffering from depression. He said, “Get ready to walk that path with them because they’re gonna need you every minute.”
Naomi is survived by her husband Larry, her daughters Wynonna and Ashley, grandchildren Grace Pauline Kelley, Elijah Judd, as well as many family and friends.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
