The Judds Singer Naomi Judd’s Life & Career In Photos

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Country music was changed forever when superstar duo The Judds came to the scene in the early 1980s. Mother-daughter duo Naomi and Wynonna Judd made history with their music, making everyone fall for them. After they broke up in 1991, the two went off to do their own respective solo careers. Naomi became an advocate, shining a light on mental illness by becoming a passionate spokesperson and powerful author. Sadly, on April 30, news broke that Naomi suddenly passed on at the age of 76.

As the proud mama of Wynonna and Ashley Judd, Naomi was a mama for her entire adult life, scraping together what she could get to support her now incredibly successful daughters. Our hearts are with them and the rest of the Judd family as they grieve through this time.

Within minutes of the news breaking, country music stars from all over the country have written out their condolences, fondly remembering the firecracker songstress. It seemed everyone had something to say about the musical legend, and it’s clear her legacy will live on in the music world.

Through and through, Naomi was a fighter. And you can see that when you look back on her amazing life story. Check out Naomi Judd’s incredible life and career through photos below.

Humble Beginnings

Image Credit: Ron Wolfson / courtesy The Everett Collection.

Born Jan. 11, 1946, Diana Ellen Judd was born to parents Pauline and Charles Judd in Kentucky. From humble beginnings, it was her and her younger brother Glenn Brian, who sadly passed away at age 17 from leukemia.
Becoming a Proud Mama Of Two

Image Credit: Everett Collection.

Naomi had her first daughter Christina Ciminella, also known as Wynonna Judd when she was 18 years old. Four years later in April 1968, she gave birth to another baby girl named Ashley. While they were growing up, she was a single mama attending nursing school at California’s College of Marin, per SFGate.
The Birth Of a Legendary Musical Career

Image Credit: James Atoa/Everett Collection.

However, she and her daughters moved to Tennessee to find a new life. She and her eldest daughter Wynonna found a passion for music and performing together. Per SFGate, they were discovered by Nashville record producer Brent Maher and within a short period of time, their first album called Wynonna & Naomi was released through RCA Records in 1983.
One Of The Most Successful Mother-Daughter Duos

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Variety.

Since Naomi and Wynonna’s first album in 1983, the duo rose to superstardom as legendary country music duo The Judds. The duo had a wildly successful career, gaining over twenty top-10 hits, over 10 number one songs, and eight successful studio albums from 1983 to 1991.
The Judds Separate After a Heartbreaking Diagnosis

Image Credit: ©PBS / courtesy Everett Collection.

However, in 1991, the Grammy-winning group had to disband due to Naomi receiving a surprising, life-threatening Hepatitis C diagnosis. But they didn’t leave their fans abruptly because they decided to go out on a very successful Farewell Tour in late 1991. That same year, Naomi created the Naomi Judd Education and Research Fund to raise awareness of Hepatitis C and become an ongoing spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation.
A Budding Acting Career

Image Credit: ©RHI Entertainment/courtesy Everett Collection.

While she stepped away from music, Wynonna ended up with a very successful solo career while mama Naomi decided to try her hand at acting. Throughout the 1990s, Naomi starred in TV Movies like Rio Diablo, A Holiday Romance, and guest-starred on shows like The Client.
The Judds Reunited

Image Credit: AP Photo/Eric Draper, File.

However, the Judds reunited again to perform for the halftime show at Super Bowl XXVIII. They reunited again in 1999 for a New Year’s Eve concert, touring throughout 2000 and ten years later, they toured again in 18 cities for a tour called “The Last Encore.”
Finding Love

Image Credit: Dee Cercone/Everett Collection.

Naomi Judd has been quiet about her love life, throughout her entire career. From what we know, she got pregnant with her then-boyfriend Charles Jordan and later married her first husband Michael Cimenella. The pair divorced in 1972. As we said, she raised her daughters as a single mother, until she found love and married her second husband, The Stamps Quartet member Larry Strickland in 1989. In a previous interview with Country Fancast, she said, “We come from common backgrounds. Larry and I are both from a family of six, very blue collar. He worked in the tobacco fields every summer. My daddy had his own gas station and taught me the hard work ethic. Larry is the most humble person I’ve ever met.”
A Close Bond With Daughter Ashley

Image Credit: Everett Collection.

Naomi Judd revealed to Good Morning America in 2016 that she and her daughter Ashley have a very strong bond. She said, “Ashley and I are so stinking much alike. We have the same mannerisms. We both read a whole lot. We both love new places. There are such similarities.”
Naomi & Wynonna’s Unique Bond

Image Credit: James Atoa/Everett Collection.

In the same super-rare interview with Good Morning America, Naomi also talked about her eldest daughter Wynonna. She said, “Through the decades, we kind of grew up together and I’m always telling her, ‘If I’d known better I would’ve done better…’ We’ve been through a lot of therapy together.” She added that the pair find themselves estranged from time to time, but music always brings them back. “I love her but there are just times we need a break from each other.”
Bestselling Author

Image Credit: Dee Cercone/Everett Collection.

Along with being a singer, actor, and philanthropist, Naomi is a critically-acclaimed author. She’s released a total of nine books throughout her lifetime, ranging from children’s books like Gertie the Goldfish to handy cookbooks like Naomi’s Home Companion. She also released memoirs on living your best life, mental health, and most recently, her memoir entitled River of Time. In the powerful memoir, she chronicles the hardships she faced, ranging from family secrets to her ongoing battle with mental health.

River of Time $9.99, originally $15.99 on Amazon.com
Buy now
Mental Health Advocacy

Image Credit: Robert Hepler.

Naomi has been open about the fact that she’s struggled with her mental health, and chronicled the highs and lows. She told Robin Roberts for Good Morning America, “What I’ve been through is extreme. My final diagnosis was severe depression. Treatment-resistant because they tried me on every single thing they had in their arsenal. It really felt like, if I live through this I want someone to be able to see that they can survive.” Per SFGate, she was such an advocate for mental health that she testified in front of Congress about anti-depressants.
Musical Recognition

Image Credit: James Atoa/Everett Collection.

In 2021, she and Wynonna were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. A year later, the two gave their first televised performance in over 20 years at the CMT Music Awards.
Sudden Passing

Image Credit: Christopher Polk for Variety.

On April 30, Ashley Judd released a statement on her Twitter page, confirming that Naomi had passed away. She wrote, “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.” You can see the tweet here.