Wynonna Judd reveals she was 'freaking nervous' and 'held on for dear life' during CMA awards performance
BRIDGESTONE, NASHVILLE: Wynonna Judd has opened up about her “bizarre” performance at the 2023 CMA Awards, saying she was “freaking nervous” and “held on for dear life” to her duet partner Jelly Roll.
The country star, who lost her mother Naomi Judd to suicide last year, took to TikTok on Thursday, November 9, to explain what happened on stage.
Wynonna Judd had fans concerned after the 2023 CMA Awards performance
Wynonna Judd had fans concerned after the 57th Annual CMA Awards performance as she appeared unstable while moving across the stage, however, her voice sounded fine.
Following the concern and fans speculating different mental and physical issues with her, she responded by posting a video after reading the comments on social media.
She said, “I’m just gonna come clean with y’all. I was so freaking nervous,” Judd said in the video.
“I got out there, and I looked at Jelly Roll. I wanted it to be so good for him. I could cry right now, but I’m not going to because I’m such a fan of his, and he asked me to sing, and I said, ‘Absolutely!,’” she added.
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Wynonna Judd will be traveling to Texas to continue her 'Back to Wy' Tour
She concluded the post by saying, “...that’s the bottom line,” adding that she would be traveling back to Texas to continue her 'Back to Wy' Tour.
The 59-year-old country musician lost her mother in April 2022 and appeared unsteady and emotional as she sang Jelly Roll’s song 'Need a Favor' with him at the awards show on Wednesday, November 8, night.
She held onto him throughout the performance and seemed to struggle with the lyrics.
Fans expressed their concern for Judd on social media, wondering if she was okay and whether she suffered from "vertigo" and other concerns.
Wynonna Judd’s CMA Awards 2023 performance leaves fans worried: She’s ‘holding on for dear life’ https://t.co/RKLjrmKkh8 pic.twitter.com/T8MeEgGrGg
— New York Post (@nypost) November 9, 2023
'I have my ups and my downs,' said Wynonna Judd
She told Entertainment Tonight, “I have my ups and my downs, and that’s life."
"I got a little bit overcome and I just said, 'I need some water. I need somebody to hold on to me for a second while I take a deep breath and cry,'" Wynonna said, adding "I just do it because that's the way life is."
Jelly Roll brings out Wynonna Judd for ‘Need A Favor’ to kick off the #CMAAwards 🔥 pic.twitter.com/808Bhe1C6s
— Dylan Lowe (@DylnLowe) November 9, 2023
Judd previously said she was “angry” over her mother’s suicide and that touring again was “literally, ‘Oh, my Lord.’”
She told the Hollywood Reporter in January, “This is me with a broken heart being as open as I’ll probably ever be, and other people are responding to that in a way that I wasn’t expecting.”
