The country music community gathered today at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to remember one of their own. Predictably, the best way to honor and commemorate one of the genre’s greatest hitmakers has been found in song.
Naomi Judd: A River of Time aired live and commercial-free on CMT.
“It’s so weird, but so natural, to be in front of (the fans) our chosen family of 38 years,” Wynonna Judd said near the end of the memorial. “This little light of mine, I’ll let it shine,” she said, quoting a gospel hymn,
Afterwards, Wynonna said she would go on the 11-date nationwide tour that she and her mother had previously announced.
“The show must go on, no matter how hard it is,” she said.
Naomi Judd has never met a stranger, according to her husband, Larry Strickland. He spoke while flanked by Ashley and Wynonna Judd on stage. Their stories of two things, “their passions and their dogs”, greatly inspired her, added
Her daughter Ashley Judd added, in her opening remarks, that her mother was an “all woman, but totally extraordinary”, who lived a life that was a “spectacular Technicolor dream” and that she “left country music better than she found it”.
The tribute included performances from Ashley McBryde, Brad Paisley, Brandi Carlile, Carly Pearce, Emmylou Harris & Allison Russell, Gaither Vocal Band, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town and Wynonna Judd.
Bette Midler, Bono, Morgan Freeman, Oprah Winfrey, Reba McEntire, Reese Witherspoon and Salma Hayek also delivered special messages to the late country singer.
After the program ended, there was a procession down Broadway in Nashville, where fans lined up to say goodbye to Naomi Judd.
The celebration was hosted by Robin Roberts, co-host of ABC’s hello america and a close family friend. Roberts was a former sportscaster/WSMV presenter during a time when the Judds appeared on Ralph Emery’s morning show on WSM-TV.
Naomi Judd: A Celebration of the River of Time was a co-production of CMT and Sandbox Live; Margaret Comeaux (CMT), Leslie Fram (CMT), Jason Owen (Sandbox) and Patrizia DiMaria (Ladypants Productions) served as EPs. .
Watch videos of some of the speeches and performances from the tribute below.
A beautiful start to a very special evening ❤️ @AshleyJudd @wynonna pic.twitter.com/wNooZRHuBR
– CMT (@CMT) May 15, 2022
This performance is truly the sweetest gift 🙏 @EmmylouSongbird @outsidechild13 pic.twitter.com/NZCZRjcgk7
– CMT (@CMT) May 15, 2022
No words, just lots of applause for this brilliant performance of “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be” 👏@Gaithermusic pic.twitter.com/Ie4MFRPrRW
– CMT (@CMT) May 15, 2022
From one Kentucky girl to another. 💜 @carlypearce pic.twitter.com/eYmaHqtSPj
– CMT (@CMT) May 15, 2022
Pure magic on stage tonight ✨ @Wynonna @brandicarlile pic.twitter.com/5XmUe8EdGA
– CMT (@CMT) May 16, 2022
Always remember: love can build a bridge 💕@Wynonna pic.twitter.com/VyVcAOln3P
– CMT (@CMT) May 16, 2022