Naomi Judd was an acclaimed American country music singer and actress, best known for her work as one half of the highly successful duo, The Judds, with her daughter Wynonna. They achieved remarkable success in the 1980s, earning numerous accolades including five Grammy Awards and nine Country Music Association awards. The Judds stopped performing in 1991 due to Naomi's hepatitis diagnosis. Although Wynonna pursued a solo career, they reunited occasionally for tours. Naomi battled mental health issues throughout her life and tragically died by suicide in 2022, a day before a planned induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame alongside Wynonna.
January 11, 1946: Birth of Naomi Judd
Naomi Judd, born Diana Ellen Judd, was born on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky.
1964: Birth of Wynonna Judd
Wynonna Judd, Naomi's daughter and future musical partner in The Judds, was born in 1964.
1965: Loss of Brother
Naomi Judd's brother, Brian, passed away from leukemia in 1965 at the age of 17.
1968: Birth of Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd, Naomi's younger daughter and future acclaimed actress, was born in 1968.
1968: Birth of Ashley Judd
Naomi Judd's second daughter, Ashley Judd, who would later become a renowned actress, was born in 1968.
1979: Film Debut in "More American Graffiti"
Naomi Judd made her first on-screen appearance in the comedy film "More American Graffiti" in 1979.
1980: The Judds Formation
In 1980, Naomi Judd, along with her daughter Wynonna, formed the country music duo, The Judds.
May 6, 1989: Marriage to Larry Strickland
Naomi Judd married Larry Strickland, a member of the Palmetto State Quartet and other gospel groups, on May 6, 1989.
1991: Creation of the Naomi Judd Education and Research Fund
In 1991, following her diagnosis, Naomi Judd established the Naomi Judd Education and Research Fund to raise awareness about hepatitis C. She also became a spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation.
1991: The Judds Disband
The Judds stopped performing in 1991 after Naomi's hepatitis C diagnosis. Their farewell concert was a landmark event, becoming the most successful musical event in cable pay-per-view history.
1993: Lead Role in "Rio Diablo"
Naomi Judd starred alongside Kenny Rogers in the made-for-television Western film "Rio Diablo" in 1993.
1993: Golden Plate Award Recipient
Naomi Judd was honored with the Golden Plate Award by the American Academy of Achievement in 1993.
1995: Executive Producer of "Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge"
In 1995, Naomi Judd executive produced "Naomi & Wynonna: Love Can Build a Bridge," a made-for-television film based on her book.
1998: Hepatitis C Recovery
Naomi Judd successfully recovered from hepatitis C in 1998 after undergoing interferon alpha treatment.
1999: Starring Roles in "A Holiday Romance" and "Family Tree"
Naomi Judd landed starring roles in "A Holiday Romance," a television film, and "Family Tree," a drama film, both released in 1999.
1999: The Judds New Year's Eve Reunion Concert
The Judds reunited for a special New Year's Eve concert in Phoenix at the America West Arena in 1999, with Ashley Judd as the MC.
2000: The Judds "Power to Change" Tour
The Judds embarked on their "Power to Change" tour in 2000, performing for over 300,000 fans across 30 dates.
2001: Cameo Appearance in "Someone Like You"
Naomi Judd made a cameo appearance in the romantic comedy "Someone Like You," which starred her daughter, Ashley Judd, in 2001.
2001: Academy of Country Music Nomination
The Judds received a nomination for the Academy of Country Music's top vocal duo of the year in 2001.
2003: Star Search Judging Debut
Naomi Judd joined the revamped version of Star Search as a judge in 2003, with Arsenio Hall as the host.
2004: Star Search Judging Continued
Naomi Judd continued her role as a judge on the revamped version of Star Search, hosted by Arsenio Hall, in 2004.
2005: "Naomi's New Morning" Talk Show Premiere
Naomi Judd's Sunday morning talk show, "Naomi's New Morning," debuted on the Hallmark Channel in 2005 and ran for two seasons.
2007: Publication of "Naomi's Guide to Aging Gratefully"
Naomi Judd authored "Naomi's Guide to Aging Gratefully: Facts, Myths, and Good News for Boomers," a self-help book, published in 2007.
2008: "Can You Duet" Judge and Mentor
Naomi Judd took on the roles of judge and mentor in the CMT reality-competition series "Can You Duet" in 2008.
2011: Starring Role in "The Killing Game"
Naomi Judd starred alongside Laura Prepon in the Lifetime television movie "The Killing Game" in 2011.
2013: Hallmark Channel Films
Naomi Judd appeared in two Hallmark Channel films, "Nearlyweds" and "Window Wonderland," both released in 2013.
2014: Role in "An Evergreen Christmas"
Naomi Judd took on the role of "Honey" in the Netflix film "An Evergreen Christmas" in 2014.
2017: "My Kitchen Rules" Contestant
Naomi Judd, alongside her husband, Larry Strickland, participated as contestants on the Fox Broadcasting reality cooking show "My Kitchen Rules" in 2017.
2021: Women Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction
Naomi Judd received the honor of being one of the first inductees into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021.
2021: Role in Lifetime's "Ruby" Adaptation
Naomi Judd secured a role as Ruby's grandmother in Lifetime's adaptation of V.C. Andrews' novel "Ruby" in 2021.
April 30, 2022: Death of Naomi Judd
On April 30, 2022, Naomi Judd died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a day before her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
May 12, 2022: Cause of Death Revealed
In a candid interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America, Ashley Judd revealed that her mother's death on April 30, 2022, was due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Ashley shared this information to raise awareness about mental illness.