Wynonna Judd honored her late mother, Naomi Judd, at the Country Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Sunday (May 1).
Just one day following her mother’s death, Wynonna told the crowd, “I didn’t prepare anything tonight because I knew mom would probably talk the most. 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.”
“You all know that I’m all about the songs. The music. I could give a rip, really, about the rest, because it all comes and goes,” Wynonna continued. “Though my heart’s broken, I will continue to sing, because that’s what we do,” she said.
She revealed that she said goodbye to her mother at 2:20 pm, “I kissed her on the forward and walked away and this is the first place I’ve been.” Wynonna said the last thing they did together as a family was to gather around Naomi and recite Psalm 23.
Wynonna’s sister, actress Ashley Judd, also spoke saying, “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. Your esteem for her and your regard for her really penetrated her heart and it was your affection for her that did keep her going in these last years. And while this is so much about The Judds as a duo, I want to recognize my sister.”
The Judds were inducted into the Hall of Fame by fellow Kentuckian Ricky Skaggs. The ceremony also paid tribute to The Judds with performances from Carly Pearce, Tommy Simms, and Gillian Welch and David Rawlings.
The Country Music Hall of Fame's newest members — Eddie Bayers, Ray Charles, Pete Drake, and the @Juddsofficial — were honored Sunday during a Medallion Ceremony at the Museum, with heartfelt testimonials and once-in-a-lifetime musical tributes. See highlights here. pic.twitter.com/pyC5ggvJ48
— Country Music HOF (@countrymusichof) May 2, 2022
♥️ @countrymusichof @juddsofficial pic.twitter.com/4MFmrO1vSs
— Carly Pearce (@carlypearce) May 2, 2022
Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins
