Country Music Star Naomi Judd Dies at 76
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We are saddened to report that country music legend Naomi Judd has passed away at the age of 76. Judd was a pioneer in the genre, and her influence will be felt for years to come. Our thoughts are with her family and fans during this difficult time.
Naomi Judd’s Life and Career
Naomi Judd, country music singer and songwriter, has died at the age of 76. Judd was born in 1946 in Ashland, Kentucky. She rose to fame in the early 1970s with hits such as “Rockin’ with the Rhythm of the Rain” and “Love Is Alive.” Judd was also a successful television actress, starring in shows such as The Walton’s and The Dukes of Hazzard. Judd retired from the music business in 1991 and focused on her health and her family. She is survived by her daughters, Ashley and Wynonna.
Naomi Judd’s early life
Naomi Judd was born Diana Ellen Judd on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky. She was the eldest of three daughters born to Charles Glen Judd and his wife, Pauline (née Oliver). As a child, she and her sisters sang for fun in local talent contests and at their mother’s beauty parlor. When she was four years old, her parents divorced; her father remarried soon after. Her mother later married Ronald Cameron. Naomi was raised in a strict Pentecostal home and spent much of her childhood either in church or working on the family farm. She graduated from high school in 1964 and then attended nursing school for a time before dropping out to marry Michael Ciminella, with whom she had one daughter: Ashley Judd (born 1968). The couple divorced when Ashley was still a toddler.
Naomi Judd’s music career
Naomi Judd’s music career began in the early 1970s when she and her daughter Wynonna formed a country music duo. The Judds scored a string of hits, including “Mama He’s Crazy,” “Why Not Me,” and “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days).” The Judds were one of the most successful country music acts of all time, selling more than 20 million records.
In 1991, Naomi Judd was diagnosed with hepatitis C, which forced the duo to disband. Naomi Judd made a solo comeback in 1999 with the album River of Time. She continued to perform and record until her retirement in 2010.
Naomi Judd died on January 28, 2021 at the age of 76.
Naomi Judd’s acting career
Though Judd is best known for her country music career, she also pursued acting, starring in the films owned by her Tyler Perry Studios.
Judd made her film debut in the Perry-directed drama “Temptation: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor” (2013), playing the mother of Jurnee Smollett-Bell’s character. She also had a small role as a nurse in Perry’s “Madea’s Witness Protection” (2012).
In addition to her work with Perry, Judd appeared in an episode of the TV series “Nashville” (2012) and had a supporting role in the Clint Eastwood-directed film “The Mule” (2018).
Naomi Judd’s Death
Naomi Judd, the country music star who found success with her daughter Wynonna as The Judds, died Sunday at age 76, her publicist announced. Judd passed away due to complications from an unspecified illness, according to her manager, Larry Thompson. Judd is survived by her daughters Wynonna and Ashley Judd.
Naomi Judd’s cause of death
It was revealed that country music star Naomi Judd’s cause of death was from complications related to an autoimmune disease. Judd passed away on Sunday at the age of 76, surrounded by her family.
Judd was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease in 2011 and had been struggling with her health in recent years. In 2016, she revealed that she had been receiving treatment for the disease and was determined to fight it.
Judd is survived by her daughters, Ashley and Wynonna.
Naomi Judd’s funeral arrangements
Funeral arrangements have been announced for award-winning country music star Naomi Judd.
The Judds singer will be laid to rest in a private ceremony on Friday, May 6, in her hometown of Ashland, Kentucky.
A public memorial service will be held at a later date.
Judd died Sunday at her home in Tennessee after a long battle with cancer. She was 76 years old.
