Wynonna Judd Says Her Mother Talked About Death Often
Wynonna Judd has said her mother, Naomi Judd, talked about death so often that she cannot recall when it first came up. She made the remarks on the podcast All There Is With Anderson Cooper, as Billboard reported on October 22, 2026.
Naomi Judd sang in The Judds, the country duo she performed in with her daughter. Wynonna told CNN that she signed her first record contract at 18, singing with her mother. Naomi died on April 30, 2022, at the age of 76.
On the podcast, Wynonna described late-night calls. Her mother would phone and say, "I don't want to be here anymore." Wynonna would then spend the night at her mother's house to watch over her. She also said Naomi talked about jumping off a bridge, and mentioned the subject to her grandson, who is a deputy.
Naomi Judd had battled depression before she died. In September 2022, Wynonna spoke about her grief in an interview with CBS journalist Lee Cowan, and Billboard reported that Naomi died by suicide. Earlier that year, Wynonna and her sister Ashley Judd said in a statement that they had lost their mother to the disease of mental illness. Ashley later said Naomi was doing the best she could while living with that illness.
Wynonna has been talking publicly about her family more often this autumn. In an interview with AP, published on October 10, 2026, she discussed her new album, The Hard Truth. A People exclusive from September 30, 2026, covered her thoughts on family secrets and forgiveness.
Grief about a parent's death can be heavy, and the subject of suicide is hard to read about. If you or someone you know is struggling, you can call or text 988 in the United States to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or contact your local emergency number or a crisis line where you live.
