Wynonna Judd Says Late Mother Naomi Judd Talked About Death ‘A Lot’: ‘Grief Is Part of Who I Am’

Wynonna Judd has spoken about her mother Naomi’s repeated talk of death before her death by suicide in 2022, describing how she sometimes stayed overnight to watch over her. In an interview on Anderson Cooper’s grief podcast, she recalled Naomi’s worsening struggle with depression and mental illness, and said the family felt she never received the help she needed.

Judd said she still experiences denial and profound grief, including after performing at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction just days after Naomi’s death. Her new album, *The Hard Truth*, is her first in a decade and the first since her mother died; she said writing it helped her express painful experiences and keep going. Naomi and Wynonna performed together as the country duo The Judds.