Country music icon and Williamson County resident Naomi Judd has died at the age of 76.
Judd’s daughters, Ashley and Wynonna Judd, announced their mother’s death in a statement to The Associated Press on Saturday, April 30.
“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our mother-in-law to mental illness,” the statement read. “We are broken. We navigate deep mourning and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her audience. We are in uncharted territory.
Wynonna Judd played with her mother for a long time as the Grammy-winning musical duo The Judds, with their debut album released in 1984.
The band stopped releasing studio albums in 1990 but have reunited over the years, most recently performing at the CMT Music Awards earlier this month.
The Judds were scheduled to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday, May 1, and they were scheduled to embark on their final tour this fall.
The Judds have lived on a farm of 1,000 in Leiper’s Fork for more than two decades, while Judd was born in Ashland, Ky., in 1946.
We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of @TheNaomiJudd. Naomi, who was one half of the legendary Country Music duo, @JuddsOfficial, forever marked the history of Country Music. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/3RWV5jQgQY
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) April 30, 2022
Naomi Judd has previously spoken publicly about her personal physical and mental health issues related to living with hepatitis C, depression and anxiety.
News of Judd’s death was met with an outpouring of shock, sadness and support from people and organizations around the world, especially those in Music City and Middle Tennessee.
The family statement cited “disease of mental illness” as the cause of death. No other information about his death or funeral arrangements has been made public.
