Naomi Judd died by suicide in April 2022, leaving behind her daughters Wynonna Judd and Ashley Judd. Naomi and Wynonna were in the hit country music duo The Judds before Wynonna pursued a solo career, and Wynonna told Country Now that performing was a key part of how she dealt with her mom’s death.
Navigating Loss Of Late Mother Naomi
“I’m literally one of those women who just wake up with a purpose and I use my pain as my foundation sometimes of springing off the pain into purpose, and I just find that some of my greatest success stories have come through the most difficult of times,” she shared. “When mom died, I was so devastated I couldn’t get a deep enough breath, so what did I do? I went on tour because the fans literally were there for me when I didn’t know how to be there for myself.”
The day after Naomi’s death, The Judds were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, which Wynonna attended.
“How did I get through that?” she reflected. “And again, I think it’s the community of country music coming together to support me, the fans being there at the shows and holding me up when I don’t even believe in myself.”
While at home, Wynonna admitted that it’s been difficult without her mom, especially since they had lived next door to each other.
“I was in the despair place for a long time and I still grapple with trying to understand that her house has been sold and it’s empty and there’s no life there anymore,” she said. “And I live right next door, so it’s like I have to go by it almost every day to go to Ashley’s. It’s just weird. Life is so weird sometimes and you just try to make it through the day without falling apart in public with the ugly cry sometimes.”
Back To Wy Tour
This fall, Wynonna will be returning to the road on her Back to Wy Tour, which will feature songs from Wynonna’s first two solo albums, Wynonna and Tell Me Why, performed track by track and followed by a finale of additional hits as well as The Judds’ songs.
“The first two albums saved my life, again, because I went on my own,” Wynonna said of branching out as a solo act in the ’90s. “I was a solo artist all of a sudden. Mom left the road and I was devastated. So I’ve come full circle how many times now and this tour just makes sense because it’s time to celebrate. Like a scrapbook – take ’em off the shelf, look through them, sing each song like looking at each picture and there’s a story there about every photograph and every song has a story.”
Admits It Will Be Tough To Perform “It’s Never Easy To Say Goodbye”
The tour begins in Indianapolis on October 26 and visits 15 cities before wrapping in Knoxville on December 1. One of many songs Wynonna will perform is “It’s Never Easy To Say Goodbye” from her self-titled album, which she knows will likely be difficult.
“I don’t know how I’m going to make it through that song because I’ve recently had to say goodbye to my mother again,” she admitted. “So how am I going to be feeling that night? Probably somewhere between hell and hallelujah, and I’m going to sing it again from my toenails because that’s who I am. My passion runs very deep, and my faith runs even deeper. So I’m going to sing these songs like I’m singing ’em for the first time because some of these songs I’ve never performed live.”
As they did directly after her mother’s death, Wynonna knows her fans will help her get through any tough times coming up while forming a new kind of connection.
“I also have this sense of faith and fellowship with the fans,” she said. “It’s new. It’s a deeper feeling that it’s not just show business, it’s not just a performance. This is about fellowship and communicating with the audience.”
Teases TV Show And New Book
Along with her tour, the 59-year-old also teased a few new projects coming up.
“I’m literally writing a book, working on a cookbook,” she revealed. “We’re doing a TV show, filming and there’s all this stuff in the works. You know how that goes. Women like me with a lot of attitude and faith, we’re always busy doing something.”
She’s also working on a new album, which will “hopefully” be released in the spring. “I’m walking in the woods crying and screaming and cussing at times when I don’t understand why mom left the way she did,” she said. “And I’m angry and I’m devastated, and yet I let go because that’s what we do. We move forward and I let go a little bit easier.”
For more information on Wynonna and her upcoming endeavors, visit her official website HERE.
