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Wynonna Judd shared a sweet throwback photo to mark what would have been her mother’s 77th birthday on Wednesday (January 11). The black-and-white picture shows Wynonna smiling with her sister, actress Ashley Judd, and her late mother, Naomi Judd.
“Our beautiful mother. 🤍,” Wynonna captioned the photo, adding the hashtag “happy birthday.” The post quickly began to garner messages from Instagram users, remembering Naomi.
Naomi — who was one half of the iconic mother-daughter duo, The Judds, with Wynonna — died unexpectedly on April 30, 2022, one day before The Judds were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. She was 76. Wynonna and Ashley confirmed in a heartbreaking statement at the time that they’d “experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness.”
Country artists, fans and others joined Wynonna and Ashley in mourning the loss of Naomi. The beloved, legendary country artist was known for iconic hit songs throughout her decades-long career, including “Why Not Me,” “Mama He’s Crazy,” “Love Can Build A Bridge” and many others.
Wynonna is in the midst of “The Final Tour,” which was meant to o include Naomi. Wynonna, who recently shared an update on her mental health following her heartbreaking loss, continued the tour in her mother’s honor.
“Remembering the ‘Queen of Everything’ on what would have been her 77th birthday. 👑,” reads a tribute shared by The Judds’ social media accounts. “With her unshakeable creative drive & unmistakable harmonies, Naomi was a force in not only country music but American pop culture as a whole. Join us in sending the Judd family your LOVE as we continue to celebrate the life and legacy of Naomi Judd! 🤍”
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