Wynonna opens up about her connection with her mother Naomi Judd after her passing, her journey through grief, and her mission to raise awareness about mental illness.
- Jun 19, 2024
AceShowbiz - Two years after the death of her mother Naomi Judd, Wynonna Judd still feels close to her, especially when she's in front of a crowd. In an interview, Judd revealed that she talks to her mother, saying, "I do. On stage, I look up a lot because I see angels. Now I do it with Mom."
Despite the passage of time, Judd feels Naomi's presence strongly on stage and when she's with her 2-year-old granddaughter, Kaliyah. She explained, "She carries a picture of Mama around and a picture of her and her mom. I talk to her about them and say, 'They love you very much.' "
Judd, now 60, has been working through her grief and anger surrounding her mother's suicide. "I've worked on forgiveness and my anger and frustration with suicide," she said. "My grief comes and goes. I see it as a gift in terms of the healing part."
She embraces her grief, allowing herself to cry as much as she needs. "It's perfectly fine to cry. It's important to embrace it and lean into it," she explained.
Judd has also grown closer to her actress sister, Ashley Judd, after their mother's passing. "Now that Mom's gone, it feels like there's more of a solidifying," she said. "We have such a strong connection now. There's no drama there."
In addition to her personal journey, Judd is using her platform to raise awareness about mental illness. "We're committed to raising awareness about the walk with mental illness and reducing shame and stigma," she said. "This is very real to me. This is not just show business. This is an opportunity to help someone out there not end their life."
Despite the difficulties she has faced, Judd remains hopeful. "I love my mother and she makes me crazy still. Your relationship with your mother never ends," she said. "I want [people] to see that in adversity, in death, there is life."
