The former 'Berlin Station' star and the one-half of The Judds accept the honor for their mother just one day after the country legend died of 'the disease of mental illness.'
- May 2, 2022
AceShowbiz -
Ashley Judd and Wynonna Judd couldn't help but get emotional when their late mom Naomi Judd was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. When accepting the honor at the Nashville, Tennessee ceremony one day after their mom's passing, the sisters broke down in tears.
"My momma loved you so much, and she appreciated your love for her and I'm sorry that she couldn't hang on until today," Ashley tearfully told the crowd. "Your esteem for her and regard for her really penetrated her heart, and it was your affection for her that did keep her going in these last few years."
The former "Berlin Station" star went on to note, "While this is so much about The Judds as a duo I want to take a moment to recognize my sister, a GOAT."
Wynonna, for her part, made a small joke despite her sadness. "I didn't prepare anything tonight 'cause I knew mom would probably talk the most," she said, before adding, "I'm gonna make this fast because my heart is broken. I feel so blessed, it's a very strange dynamic to be this broken and this blessed.
The Judds was not the only one who received the recognition. Eddie Bayers, who played on many of the duo's records, Ray Charles as well as Pete Drake were also inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday.
Wynonna and Ashley confirmed Naomi's death on Saturday via Instagram. "Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness," the announced. "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."
Naomi died at the age of 76. The singer passed away just weeks after she and her daughter Wynonnna announced their final tour, which was set to kick off on September 3 in Michigan and would concluded in Nashville on October 28.
