Larry Strickland is paying tribute to his late wife Naomi Judd.
16.05.2022 - 05:51 / deadline.com
The country music community gathered today at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville to remember one of their own. As it might be expected, the best way to honor and memorialize one of the genre’s greatest hitmakers was found in song.
Naomi Judd: A River of Time was carried live and commercial-free on CMT.
The tribute included performances by Ashley McBryde, Brad Paisley, Brandi Carlile, Carly Pearce, Emmylou Harris & Allison Russell, Gaither Vocal Band, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town and Wynonna Judd.
Bette Midler, Bono, Morgan Freeman, Oprah Winfrey, Reba McEntire, Reese Witherspoon and Salma Hayek also delivered special messages to the late country singer.
Once the program ends, there will be a procession down Nashville’s Broadway beginning at 6:30 p.m. Fans are expected to line Broadway to say their goodbyes to Judd.
The celebration was hosted by Robin Roberts, coanchor of ABC’s Good Morning America and a close family friend. Roberts was a former sports reporter/anchor at WSMV at a time when the Judds were appearing on Ralph Emery’s morning show on WSM-TV.
Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration is a co-production from CMT and Sandbox Live; Margaret Comeaux (CMT), Leslie Fram (CMT), Jason Owen (Sandbox) and Patrizia DiMaria (Ladypants Productions) are Executive Producers.
Watch videos of select speeches and performances from the tribute below.
A beautiful start to a very special night ❤️ @AshleyJudd @wynonna pic.twitter.com/wNooZRHuBR
— CMT (@CMT) May 15, 2022
This performance is the sweetest gift indeed
Larry Strickland is paying tribute to his late wife Naomi Judd.
A fitting tribute. Naomi Judd‘s husband, Larry Strickland, talked about the country singer’s legacy while recalling her final days in an emotional speech.
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic“Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration” was broadcast live on CMT Sunday night two weeks and one day after the country music legend died. But it hadn’t been half that long in the planning. The show’s gestation really came just a week prior to air date, on — appropriately enough — Mother’s Day.
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perform “The Rose” with Brandi Carlile. Wynonna Judd paused her performance at one point so that she could redo a section of the song better, her voice soaring as the crowd cheered.The ceremony began with Judd’s daughter Ashley delivering a eulogy that traced her mother’s life from its humble beginnings in Kentucky to the heights of superstardom.“We are here tonight remembering an icon and a legend who left country music better than she found it,” Ashley Judd said tearfully.“She was every woman.
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticOne of pop culture’s most famous mother figures got a sendoff from her community at the Mother Church of country music Sunday, as Wynonna and Ashley Judd welcomed country stars and other celebrities to Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium for “Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration,” a tribute that was broadcast live on CMT.A frequently heaven-looking Wynonna, who with her late mother was half of the country duo the Judds, sang “River of Time” early in the ceremony, then closed it joined by her local Christ Church choir for what was the pair’s final hit, “Love Will Build a Bridge.” She also participated in a recreation of the mother/daughter harmonies by pairing up with Brandi Carlile for a duet of “The Rose,” preceded by a video testimonial by Bette Midler. Pure magic on stage tonight ✨ @Wynonna @brandicarlile pic.twitter.com/5XmUe8EdGA— CMT (@CMT) May 16, 2022“It’s so strange to be here, but natural at the same time,” said Wynonna.
Editor's note: This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Naomi Judd will be honored with a memorial presented by CMT on May 15 at 5 p.m.
The life of Naomi Judd will be celebrated during a memorial this weekend and it will air live on CMT.
Fans of the late Naomi Judd will be able to pay their final respects via televised coverage of the late country singer’s memorial service.
Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticA public memorial service for Naomi Judd has been set for this Sunday evening at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, with CMT airing it live and commercial-free at 6 p.m. ET/3 PT.The lineup of participating artists who will perform or otherwise pay tribute will be announced in the days leading up to the event, with organizers for now promising “some of the biggest names in entertainment” will have a part in saying goodbye to the singer, who died April 30.Naomi’s daughters, Wynonna and Ashley Judd, are participating in the program, which is being co-produced by CMT and Sandbox Live.
Naomi Judd, the longtime country music singer who unexpectedly passed away at 76 years old just one day before she was set to be inducted Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame, reportedly died by suicide.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s department has launched an investigation into the shocking death of country legend Naomi Judd.
Ann Wilson is celebrating the late Naomi Judd amid her unexpected death. ET spoke with the Heart frontwoman about her friendship with the country music legend and how she'll be remembering her.
tell People. Naomi’s daughters, Wynonna and Ashley, said they lost their mom to “the disease of mental illness” in a statement released on Saturday. She was 76.The Post has reached out for comment from representatives of the singers.
Remembering their mom. Ashley Judd and Wynonna Judd tearfully took the stage at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony one day after announcing the death of their mother, Naomi Judd.
Naomi and her daughter Wynonna Judd, along with Ray Charles, Eddie Bayers and Pete Drake were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, one day after Naomi Judd died.
Cherishing the memories. After Naomi Judd’s April 2022 death, the country singer’s loving family will hold their special moments with her in their hearts.