Judd death puts light on mental illness

Photo by: Naomi Judd - Facebook
Photo by: Naomi Judd - Facebook

(Nashville, TN) -- The death of Naomi Judd is bringing a heightened awareness to mental illness.

Her daughters, Wynonna and Ashley Judd, said they lost their mother to "the disease of mental illness." There are unconfirmed reports Naomi Judd committed suicide. Judd said she spent time in psychiatric wards at various points during her mental health struggles.

Wynonna said she will continue to sing despite her broken heart. She spoke at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony Sunday, just a day after the death of her mother. The mother-daughter duo was enshrined into the hall as members of the 2022 class of inductees.

Wynonna said she hadn't prepared much remarks for the ceremony, thinking her mother would've done most of the talking. She noted the mixed emotions of the evening saying, "It's a very strange dynamic, to be this broken and this blessed."  Ashley also attended the event.

Judd died on Saturday at the age of 76.