Sisters Wynonna and Ashley Judd remembered their mother, Naomi Judd, at the induction ceremony for the Country Music Hall of Fame Sunday, just hours after she died.
Following brief remarks from actress and younger sister Ashley, Wynonna spoke for about four minutes about her mother and the “strange dynamic” of joy and grief she was feeling.
“I didn’t prepare anything tonight ‘cause I knew that mom would probably talk the most,” Wynonna said. “I feel so blessed and it’s a very strange dynamic to be this broken and this blessed … but though my heart is broken, I will continue to sing.”
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Wynonna said her mother passed away at 2:20 p.m. Saturday, and that she kissed her “on the forehead and walked away.” According to Wynonna, the family recited Psalm 23 as Naomi was dying, prompting the crowd to join in with her as she recited it at the ceremony.
“My momma loved you so much, and she appreciated your love for her and I’m sorry that she couldn’t hang on until today,” Ashley said.
“Your esteem for her and your regard for her really penetrated her heart and it was your affection for her that did keep her going in these last years,” Ashley said.
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The sisters released a statement Saturday that said their mother had died due to “the disease of mental illness.”
See the video of the ceremony below.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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