Wynonna Judd recalls the last time she performed with her mother last year, just before Naomi shocked the world on April 30, 2022, in her Tennessee home.
The other half of The Judds revealed on the “Today” show’s “Making Space With Hoda Kotb” podcast that when they performed together at the CMT Awards in Nashville in April 2022, she saw some red flags that her mother wasn’t in the right frame of mind.
The 58-year-old singer described her mother’s demeanor as follows:
“She was fragile.”
“I knew something wasn’t right in terms of her being off a little bit, a bit nervous.”
Wynonna said she felt her mother’s anxiety while singing their hit song “Love Can Build A Bridge” together.
“I think it’s because she hadn’t sung in a long time. And I think when our parents get older, their world gets smaller.”
Wynonna, who has a sister named Ashley, went on to say:
“And she was late (that night), and she is never late. I think she was nervous.”
She was also taken aback by Naomi Judd’s vibrant wig on stage.
She stated that her first reaction was to yank the woman’s wig off rather than hug or console her because their relationship was “difficult and delicate,” as she put it.
Their relationship was problematic because both the “A Bad Goodbye” singer and her mother were strong-willed alphas who found it difficult to be warm toward one another.
Finally, Wynonna expressed her appreciation for having one more chance to perform with Naomi.
“I’m glad I didn’t stay stuck in my perfectionism is my point, I guess.”
Naomi Judd died less than a month later from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Despite her celebrity, the well-known country singer battled depression and anxiety for a long time.
Wynonna Judd’s last words to her mother before she died were “I love you,” and she hasn’t stopped communicating with her since.
In her head, she would occasionally converse with her mother, inquiring about various clothing options. At times, the conversation would become more serious and involve questions for which she had no answers.
Naomi will remember Wynonna’s “queen” status and her mother as a “great composer” for the rest of her life.