Naomi Judd, who sang with daughter Wynonna as part of country music’s famed duo The Judds has died at 76.
The sisters confirmed their mother’s death on Twitter.
“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy,” they said in a statement posted from the Judds’ official Twitter account. “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.”
Naomi Judd formed one half of the Grammy-winning family duo The Judds, in which she provided harmonies for her daughter Wynonna. Their hits included “Love Can Build a Bridge,” “Mama He’s Crazy,” “Why Not Me,” “Girls Night Out,” and “Turn It Loose.”
Wynonna and Naomi Judd performed at the CMT Music Awards in April and were set to embark on a stadium tour this fall. The announcement of Naomi Judd’s death came just one day before The Judds’ official induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Country Music Hall of Fame CEO Kyle Young said “We are shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Naomi Judd, who enters the Country Music Hall of Fame tomorrow as a member of mother-daughter duo the Judds. Naomi overcame incredible adversity on her way to a significant place in music history. Her triumphant life story overshadows today’s tragic news. Her family has asked that we continue with the Judds’ official Hall of Fame induction on Sunday. We will do so, with heavy hearts and weighted minds. Naomi and daughter Wynonna’s music will endure.”
