The Judds were an American country music duo composed of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna Judd. Signed to RCA Records in 1983, the duo released six studio albums between then and 1991. One of the most successful acts in country music history, The Judds won five Grammy Awards for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and eight Country Music Association awards. The duo also charted twenty-five singles on the country music charts between 1983 and 2000, fourteen of which went to Number One and six more of which made Top Ten on the same chart.

The Judds called it quits in 1991 after Naomi was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Shortly after, Wynonna began her solo career. The two have occasionally reunited for special tours, the most recent of which began in late 2010.

History[link]

Naomi Judd was born Diana Ellen Judd on January 11, 1946 in Ashland, Kentucky. She played piano at her local church.^[1] At age seventeen, she married Michael Ciminella, with whom she had Christina Ciminella, who would later be renamed Wynonna Judd.^[1] After Diana's parents divorced, she and her daughter moved to Los Angeles, California in 1968, and lived on welfare after she and Michael divorced in 1972.^[1] By 1976, Diana and her daughter moved back to Tennessee. Diana renamed herself Naomi and began playing music with her daughter, who sang harmony and played guitar. At the same time, Naomi began studying to be a nurse.^[1]

This section requires expansion with: Albums and singles history, notable awards, critical reception, etc..

Reunion shows[link]

Wynonna and Naomi briefly reunited for a commercial for the retail chain Kmart, performing as the Judds on the song "Changing For the Better". The duo also performed several shows in 1998. During this time, the duo also charted one more single credited to The Judds, as well as receiving an Academy of Country Music nomination for Duo of the Year in 2001.^[2] In addition, Naomi sang harmony on Wynonna's 2004 single "Flies on the Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)", although this song was credited as "Wynonna with Naomi Judd".

In 2008, The Judds once again reunited for a concert at the 2008 Stagecoach Festival in Indio, California,^[3] as well as two shows in Canada, including one at the world famous Calgary Stampede and another at the Merritt Mountain Music Festival in Merritt, British Columbia. In 2009, The Judds performed at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville.

In February 2010, Wynonna Judd appeared on CBS's The Early Show and announced that she would reunite with Naomi, to tour and record a studio album for the final time as The Judds by the end of 2010. The tour, known as the Last Encore Tour, became an 18-city tour of the US that was expanded to 29 dates in 2011.^[4]

On September 14, 2010, The Judds appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show where Wynonna discussed "her recent weight loss, her year of living dangerously and what it's like going back on stage as part of the iconic duo, The Judds."^[5] The Judds will also perform their new single "I Will Stand By You," which was released on iTunes that same day.^[6] In March 2011, Curb Records announced the release of The Judds' new album, I Will Stand by You: The Essential Collection, which features two new songs and twelve of the duo's hits. The album was released on April 5, 2011.

In April 2011, The Judds began starring in their first reality series, The Judds, on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.^[7] The new series, which premiered April 10, follows the duo on their final concert tour and explores their mother-daughter relationship.

Discography[link]

Awards[link]

Academy of Country Music

• 1984 Top Vocal Duo
• 1985 Top Vocal Duo
• 1986 Top Vocal Duo
• 1987 Top Vocal Duo
• 1988 Top Vocal Duo
• 1989 Top Vocal Duo
• 1990 Top Vocal Duo

Country Music Association

• 1984 Horizon Award
• 1985 Single of the Year - "Why Not Me"
• 1985 Vocal Group of the Year
• 1986 Vocal Group of the Year
• 1987 Vocal Group of the Year
• 1988 Vocal Duo of the Year
• 1989 Vocal Duo of the Year
• 1990 Vocal Duo of the Year
• 1991 Vocal Duo of the Year

Grammy Awards

• 1985 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - "Mama He's Crazy"
• 1986 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - "Why Not Me"
• 1987 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout the Good Old Days)"
• 1989 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - "Give A Little Love"
• 1992 Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - "Love Can Build A Bridge"

References[link]

External links[link]

• http://www.thejuddstour2010.com
• Official website

Naomi Judd
Judd leans over to talk to General Colin Powell, Golden Plate Awards, June 3, 2005
Background information
Birth name	Diana Ellen Judd
Born	(1946-01-11) January 11, 1946 (age 66)
Origin	Ashland, Kentucky, U.S.
Genres	Country
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	1983–present
Labels	RCA Records/Curb
Associated acts	The Judds
Website	naomijudd.com

Naomi Judd (born January 11, 1946) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and activist.

Personal life[link]

She was born Diana Ellen Judd to Charles Glen Judd and his wife Pauline (Oliver) Judd on January 11, 1946, in Ashland, Kentucky. Her father owned a gas station; her mother started out as a homemaker but later became a riverboat cook. Her first child, Christina Ciminella (later Wynonna Judd), was born when she was only 18. After the birth of her daughter Ashley (April 1968, who later became a film and stage actress) and the end of her marriage to Michael Ciminella, Judd brought up both daughters as a single parent, first going to nursing school but later beginning a successful singing career with daughter Wynonna.^[1]

Her second marriage was on May 6, 1989, to Larry Strickland of the Palmetto State Quartet. They have no children together.

The Judds[link]

With her daughter, Wynonna Judd, Naomi formed the highly successful singing duo known as The Judds.

As country music's most famous mother–daughter team, The Judds scored twenty top-10 hits (including fifteen #1s) and went undefeated for eight consecutive years at all three major country music awards shows. In addition, the duo won five Grammy Awards and a vast array of other awards and honors. As a songwriter, Naomi also won a Grammy for Country Song of the Year with the Judds' smash hit "Love Can Build a Bridge".

Activist, author, motivational speaker and actress[link]

In 1991, after selling more than 20 million albums and videos in seven years and at the pinnacle of their career, The Judds' reign came to an abrupt end because Naomi was diagnosed with Hepatitis C, a potentially fatal chronic liver disease that forced her retirement. Their duet ended on a high note when their "Farewell" tour was the top grossing act and their farewell concert was the most successful musical event in cable pay-per-view history.^{[citation needed]}

In 1991, Naomi created the Naomi Judd Education and Research Fund to raise awareness of the deadly Hepatitis C virus, and uses the strength of her own experiences as spokesperson for the American Liver Foundation.

In 1999 Naomi starred as Lily Waite alongside Andy Griffith and Gerald McRaney in the film A Song for the Season. One of her first acting jobs was a small role (Girl on the Bus) in More American Graffiti 1979.

Naomi and Wynonna came together for a special New Year's Eve concert in Phoenix in December 1999 at the America West Arena, with Ashley as the emcee.

In 2000, The Judds embarked on their "Power to Change Tour" and performed to over 300,000 people in some thirty dates. The duo was nominated for the prestigious Academy of Country Music's Top Vocal Duo of the Year in 2001.

In November 2005, Naomi began hosting Naomi's New Morning, a talk show that aired on Sunday mornings on the Hallmark Channel. The show lasted two seasons.^[2] She is also the author of several self-help books including the recent Naomi's Guide to Aging Gratefully: Facts, Myths, and Good News for Boomers.^[3]

In 2008, Naomi joined a new television reality-competition series Can You Duet, as a judge/mentor. The show, by the producers of American Idol, aired on Country Music Television.

Discography[link]

Featured singles[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Naomi's New Morning - Naomi's talk show
• Naomi Judd at the Internet Movie Database