The Suicide of Naomi Judd: A Tragic Look Back Two Sad Years Later

Photo byClassic TV Preservation Society

It's been two sad years since country music Naomi Judd took her own life on April 30, 2022, in Leiper's Fork, TN. She ignited her career with daughter Wynonna Judd as the Grammy-winning duo, The Judds. From humble beginnings to massive success of the 1980s, and then her tragic demise at 76 years old, this is her story.

A Closer Look

Naomi Judd was born Diana Ellen Judd on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky. Her early life was marked by struggle and hardship, including a teen pregnancy and a failed marriage.

Judd, however, channeled her challenges into success. Employed as a single-mother nurse with two daughters, Judd initially performed with Wynonna as a hobby.

That led to their big break with a list of chart-topping hits including "Why Not Me" and "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)."

A Different Path

In the early 1990s, Naomi JuddJudds' announced her retirement due to a Hepatitis C diagnosis, and The Judds professional partnership was over.

However, Naomi went on to author several self-help books, sharing her experiences and life lessons. She also acted in movies, while touring as a motivational speaker with an inspiring message that reached millions.

An Unfathomable Tragedy Struck

Ashley Judd and her family wanted to make sure the public knew how Naomi Judd died by sharing the news themselves. And she did so during an interview with Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America.

“She used a weapon,” Ashley Judd said. “A firearm. So that’s the piece of information we are very uncomfortable sharing.”

Ashley said she and her family sought to shed light on mental illness, clarifying the importance of making "the distinction between the loved one and the disease.”

Naomi died the day before she and Wynonna were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Ashley said her mother “couldn’t hang on” to be recognized by her peers.

“That is the level of catastrophe of what was going on inside of her,” Judd said. “Because the barrier between the regard in which they held her couldn’t penetrate into her heart and the lie the disease told her was so convincing.”