Naomi Judd’s unexpected retirement announcement in 1990 shocked the country music community, but her journey proved far from over.
At the age of 44, Judd, one-half of the acclaimed mother-daughter duo The Judds, revealed her retirement on October 17, 1990, citing a diagnosis of Hepatitis C. This disease, which impacts liver function, prompted her to step back from both the duo and her solo career, allowing her daughter Wynonna to forge ahead independently.
A Sudden Farewell
During a tumultuous time, The Judds were in the midst of their Love Can Build a Bridge Tour when Judd made the startling announcement. She expressed to fans that her health was the only thing that could pull her away from the music she loved, stating, “Unfortunately, that has happened,” as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
The duo initially bid farewell to fans during what they anticipated to be their final tour in 1991. However, Judd’s journey did not conclude there.
From Music to Advocacy
Following her retirement, Naomi Judd became an advocate for the American Liver Foundation, establishing the Naomi Judd Education and Research Fund to raise awareness about Hepatitis C. She returned to acting with a role in the 1999 TV movie A Holiday Romance and graced the stage for a New Year’s Eve concert in Phoenix that same year.
The Judds reunited for the Power to Change Tour in 2000, and again in 2010, claiming it would be their final tour, titled the Last Encore Tour. Judd’s life post-retirement was filled with numerous roles, including that of a speaker, author, and reality television personality. She emphasized a holistic approach to her health, combining conventional medicine with alternative practices such as acupuncture and meditation, ultimately declaring herself in remission since 1999.
Naomi Judd passed away by suicide on April 30, 2022, at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy that transformed country music.
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Gallery Credit: Lorie Liebig
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The Judds have 14 No. 1 songs and dominated Duo and Group of the Year awards at both the CMA and ACM Awards during the 1980s. They also recorded several dozen great songs that never made radio. Here are their Top 10 songs ever.