Naomi Judd Honored By Her Daughters At Country Music Hall Of Fame Ceremony

Country music star Naomi Judd was recently remembered and honored by her daughters at the Country Music Hall of Fame ceremony, just one day after her death was announced. During the ceremony, her daughters, Wynonna Judd and Ashley Judd, reflected on how difficult it was to celebrate her mother’s achievement after losing her so suddenly.

“I didn’t prepare anything tonight because I knew mom would probably talk the most,” Wynonna told the audience. “I’m gonna make this fast, because my heart’s broken, and I feel so blessed. It’s a very strange dynamic, to be this broken and this blessed.” Wynonna and her famous late mother often performed as a mother-daughter duo together through the years.

Naomi Judd honored and remembered by her daughters at the Country Music Hall of Fame ceremony

Country Music Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young released a statement on behalf of the organization, saying they were “shocked and saddened” by Judd’s untimely death. However, Judd’s family had asked that the induction ceremony go as planned. Her daughters announced that Naomi passed away at the age of 76 as a result of her battle with mental illness. “I’m sorry that she couldn’t hang on until today,” Ashely said through tears while at the ceremony.

RELATED: Singer Naomi Judd Dies At 76 Due To Mental Illness

“Though my heart’s broken, I will continue to sing, because that’s what we do,” Wynonna added, and concluded their speech by reciting Psalm 23 from the Bible. Naomi had appeared on Good Morning America back in 2016 to reveal that she had been diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety. That same year, she had written a book called River of Time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged with Hope that explained her struggles.

In the Country Music Hall of Fame’s announcement of the 2021 members-elect, they credited Naomi and Wynonna with helping “take country back to its roots in the 1980s with lean, tuneful songs influenced by traditional folk music, acoustic blues, and family harmony acts.”

The mother-daughter duo began performing together in the early 1980s, going on to produce a number of hit songs like “Mama He’s Crazy” and “Love Can Build a Bridge.” Together, they sold more than 20 million records, won five Grammys, and had 14 No. 1 singles.