Wynonna Judd recruited several iconic artists to transform “The Final Tour” into “the ultimate girls night out.” Martina McBride remains in the lineup, which now includes Brandi Carlile, Ashley McBryde, Little Big Town, Trisha Yearwood and Faith Hill, who will join Wynonna on stage at a newly-added Kentucky hometown show. Additional artists will be announced, according to a press release on Thursday morning (May 19).
Earlier this week, Wynonna confirmed that the tour would still move forward after losing her mother and The Judds duo parter, Naomi Judd. The Judds matriarch unexpectedly died on April 30, one day before The Judds were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She was 76. The legendary mother-daughter duo announced “The Final Tour” dates in April.
“I will continue to sing,” Wynonna said, per CMT, which worked with Sandbox Live and the Judd family to present Naomi’s public memorial service at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. “I made a decision, and I decided to share it on national television. After a lot of thought, I am gonna have to honor her and do this tour because that is what you would want. …So tonight, as we close I say, ‘the show must go on.’ As hard as it may be, we will show up together. You will carry me, as you carried me for 38 years once again because I honestly didn’t think I should do it. I didn’t know If I could go on without her.”
Naomi’s husband of more than 30 years, Larry Strickland, said in a statement that in a time of grief, he’s “too happy” that Wynonna agreed to continue the tour in honor of Naomi.
McBride will kick off select nights of the tour, which has added a final stop on October 29 in Lexington, Kentucky. Each night, Wynonna will welcome special guests on stage, including Carlile, Little Big Town, McBryde and Yearwood. Hill will join Wynonna on the Rupp Arena stage.
“What a full-circle moment it will be to end the tour in Kentucky where it all began. It means so much to have my sisterfriend, Faith, join me for this musical celebration.” Wynonna said in a statement. “It is pretty amazing – all of the people who have come forward to offer up their time and their gifts. I am feeling extra grateful.
“I am humbled, once again, by the loyalty of the fans who have been with us for 38+ years, who continue to show up for me when I need them the most,” she said. “I am grateful that we will continue to honor The Judds legacy, together.”
See “The Final Tour” dates here:
Friday, September 30 — Grand Rapids, MI
Saturday, October 1 — Toledo, OH
Friday, October 7 — Sioux Falls, SD
Saturday, October 8 — Green Bay, WI
Friday, October 14 — Duluth, GA
Saturday, October 15 — Huntsville, AL
Friday, October 21 — Durant, OK
Saturday, October 22 — Ft. Worth, TX
Thursday, October 27 — Biloxi, MS
Friday, October 28 — Nashville, TN
Saturday, October 29 — Lexington, KY