Naomi Judd Memorial Special: Date, time, where to watch it LIVE and full list of performers
WARNING: This article contains information about suicide and suicide ideation that some people may find triggering or upsetting. Discretion is advised.
To remember and pay homage to the late celebrated country singer Naomi Judd, a memorial event will be held Sunday evening, May 15, at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The 76-year-old singer-songwriter died on April 30 in her Tennessee home. The tragedy happened just a day before what would have been a momentous milestone in her life. She, along with her 57-year-old daughter Wynonna Judd, were going to be inducted to the Country Music Hall of Fame together.
During the induction ceremony, Wynonna stepped on to the stage to give a very emotional speech. She said: “My mama loved you so much and she appreciated your love for her. And I'm sorry that she couldn't hang on until today. Your esteem for her and your regard for her really penetrated her heart. And it was your affection for her that did keep her going in these last years.”
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Where to watch memorial event and who all will perform?
According to reports, the event will be telecasted, commercial-free, on Sunday at 5 pm CST on the cable network CMT. The memorial will also be re-televised at 9 pm CST on Sunday. However, if someone wants to be part of the event physically, they can reportedly send a request to be accomodated in the limited audience seating available at aud615.com.
It has been said that ‘Good Morning America’ host Robin Roberts will act as the memorial service’s host, while “country hitmaker Carly Pearce and CMT personality Cody Allen will co-host the television broadcast,” The Tennessean said. In-person appearances and virtual messages from people like Wynonna and Ashley Judd, Naomi's husband Larry Strickland, Bono, Morgan Freeman, Oprah Winfrey, Salma Hayek, and Martina McBride are also expected.
Besides, Ashley McBryde, Brandi Carlile, Emmylou Harris, Allison Russell, Little Big Town, and The Gaithers will reportedly dedicate performances at the event to celebrate Naomi’s life.
Naomi took her own life by shooting herself, her daughter Ashley had revealed. Speaking with Diane Sawyer on ‘Good Morning America’, the 54-year-old actress said: “I’m tasked with an exceedingly difficult task in disclosing the manner of the way my mother chose not to continue to live. And I’ve thought about this so much because once I say it, it can’t be unsaid. And because I don’t want it to be part of the gossip economy, I will share with you that she used a weapon. Mother used a firearm. So that’s the piece of information that we are very uncomfortable sharing, but we understand … if we don’t say it, someone else is going to.”
She continued, “It was a mixed day. I visit with my mom and pop every day when I’m home in Tennessee, so I was at the house visiting as I am every day. Mom said to me, ‘Will you stay with me?’ and I said, ‘Of course I will,” before noting: “I went upstairs to let her know that her good friend was there, and I discovered her. I have both grief and trauma from discovering her.”
“That is the level of catastrophe of what was going on inside of her, because the barrier between the regard in which they held her couldn’t penetrate into her heart, and the lie the disease told her was so convincing. My mother knew that she was seen and she was heard in her anguish, and she was walked home. When we’re talking about mental illness, it’s very important to be clear and to make the distinction between our loved one and the disease. It’s very real, and it lies. It’s savage,” Ashley added.
If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).