Diana Ellen Judd
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Naomi Judd, born Diana Ellen Judd in 1946, co-founded the Grammy-winning duo The Judds with her daughter Wynonna, selling millions of records before her death by suicide in 2022. She also acted in films like Someone Like You and TV shows like Touched by an Angel. Just one day before her death, she and Wynonna were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.
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Diana Ellen Judd entered the world on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky, to Pauline Ruth Oliver and Charles Glen Judd. After her marriage to Michael Ciminella ended in 1972, she raised daughters Ashley and Wynonna as a single mother while attending nursing school at the College of Marin in Lagunitas, California. She worked as a nurse in an intensive care unit in the 1980s, where she contracted hepatitis C.
In the 1980s, Naomi Judd and her daughter Wynonna formed The Judds. Their Farewell Tour in 1991 was the industry’s top-grossing tour, and they performed at the 1994 Super Bowl halftime show before a billion people. She acted in films including Someone Like You 2001 and An Evergreen Christmas 2014, and TV shows such as Touched by an Angel 1994. She authored books including Naomi’s Home Companion 1997 and children’s books Love Can Build a Bridge 1999.
Naomi Judd married Michael Charles Ciminella in 1964. They had daughters Wynonna and Ashley before divorcing in 1972. In 1989, she married Larry Strickland, and they remained together until her death in 2022. She was a spokesperson for Big Kmart and appeared as a contestant on the TV game show Password in April 1973.
The Country Music Hall of Fame inducted Naomi Judd in 2021 as half of The Judds, one of country music’s most successful duos. She died before the official ceremony; her daughters Wynonna and Ashley tearfully accepted the award. Her private funeral was held at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and her ashes were sprinkled on Wynonna’s farmland. She was also selected as Kayser-Roth’s No Nonsense American Woman of the Month in May 1995.
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Diagnosed in 1990 with a potentially life-threatening liver disease, hepatitis C, contracted while working as a nurse in an intensive care unit in the 1980s.
Mother of actress Ashley Judd and singer Wynonna Judd.
Passed away just one day before she and daughter Wynonna were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame for their groundbreaking work as a duo; Wynonna and Ashley still attended to accept the award tearfully.
The Judds’ Farewell Tour in 1991 was the industry’s top-grossing tour; she performed before a billion people at the 1994 Super Bowl halftime show, and reunited with Wynonna for a New Year’s Eve concert in Phoenix on December 31, 1999.
After the birth of daughter Ashley and the end of her marriage to Michael Ciminella, she raised both daughters as a single mother, attending nursing school at the College of Marin while residing in Lagunitas, California.
In Tennessee, she worked at the Williamson County Medical Center in Franklin, below Nashville, and was a frequent customer at a local reuse store for clothes and household needs.
Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame as a member of The Judds in 2021.
Published her book Naomi’s Home Companion in October 1997, and children’s books Love Can Build a Bridge 1999 and Guardian Angels 2000.
Born eight days before fellow country singer, actress, and friend Dolly Parton.
Selected by Kayser-Roth Corporation’s No Nonsense Pantyhose as their No Nonsense American Woman of the Month for May 1995.
Her private funeral service was held by her family at the Country Music Hall of Fame; she was cremated and her ashes sprinkled around Wynonna’s farmland. A public memorial service was held at the Ryman Auditorium.
She and daughter Wynonna were spokespersons for Big Kmart.
Daughter of Pauline Ruth Oliver and Charles Glen Judd.
Appeared as a contestant on the TV game show Password in April 1973, with panelists Bert Convy and Peter Lawford.
Has an Instagram account @thenaomijudd and a Twitter account @TheNaomiJudd.
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