Naomi Judd dead at 76: Grammy-winning singer of The Judds dies from ‘the disease of mental illness’, family announce

COUNTRY music star Naomi Judd has died at the age of 76, her family have confirmed.

The Kentucky-born singer of Grammy-winning duo The Judds died from “the disease of mental illness”, a statement said. CBS reported that her death was suicide.

Daughters Wynonna and Ashley Judd said: “Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness.

“We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.”

The statement did not elaborate further on her cause of death.

The announcement came the day before The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony on Sunday.

The mother-daughter performers scored 14 No. 1 songs in a career that spanned nearly three decades.

After rising to the top of country music, they called it quits in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis.

The Judds’ hits included Love Can Build a Bridge in 1990, Mama He’s Crazy in 1984, Why Not Me in 1984, Turn It Loose in 1988, Girls Night Out in 1985, Rockin’ With the Rhythm of the Rain in 1986 and Grandpa in 1986.

Originally from Kentucky, Naomi was working as a nurse when she and Wynonna started singing together professionally.

Their unique harmonies, together with elements of acoustic music, bluegrass and blues, made them stand out in the genre at the time.

The Judds released six studio albums and an EP between 1984 and 1991 and won nine Country Music Association Awards and seven from the Academy of Country Music.

They earned a total of five Grammy Awards together on hits like Why Not Me and Give A Little Love.

The Judds sang about family, the belief in marriage and the virtue of fidelity.

Because Naomi was so young looking, the two were mistaken for sisters early in their career.

Daughter Ashley Judd is an actor known for her roles in such movies as Kiss the Girls, Double Jeopardy and Heat.

Naomi Judd is also survived by her husband and fellow singer, Larry Strickland, who was a backup singer for Elvis Presley. They married in 1989.

If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.