Wynonna Judd is opening up about the hardest chapter of her life. On Anderson Cooper’s podcast All There Is, the country icon spoke candidly about her mother Naomi Judd’s death by suicide in April 2022. She described Naomi’s long struggle with depression, the frequent calls where her mom said she didn’t want to be there anymore, and the nights she stayed at her house just to keep watch.“No, no, no. You’re not gonna do that. You have too much to live for,”Wynonna recalled telling her.
Naomi died one day before The Judds were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, and Wynonna still showed up for the ceremony the next day. She calls that choice turning pain into purpose, and it’s that same strength she’s pouring into her new album, The Hard Truth, her first in a decade. The record is a raw look at grief, and Wynonna says the songs are her testimony.
Her message lands for anyone who’s ever watched someone they love struggle: you are not alone, and help is out there. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. Have you ever used music to work through loss? Which song got you through?
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.