The Judds were an American mother/daughter country music duo of Naomi Judd and her daughter, Wynonna. Together, The Judds became one of Country Music's most popular groups, having a string of hits in the 80s. The duo split in 1990 when a chronic hepatitis infection forced Naomi to retire.

Career

Early Life & Rising Success

Naomi Judd was born Diana Ellen Judd on Jan. 11, 1946, in Ashland, Ky. Finding herself pregnant, she quickly got married but not to the father of her first child, daughter Christina Ciminella. Christina, born May 30, 1964, became known as Wynonna Judd when the mother-daughter duo stormed the country charts in the 1980s.

After Naomi divorced, she moved from their latest home in Hollywood, back to Morrill, Ky., with Wynonna and another daughter Ashley. There, she worked as a nurse in a local infirmary. Outside working and school hours, she and the children would sing anything from bluegrass to showbiz standards for their own amusement. However, when Wynonna nurtured aspirations to be a professional entertainer, her mother lent her encouragement, to the extent of moving the family to Nashville in 1979. Naomi's contralto subtly underlined Wynonna's tuneful drawl.

The Height of Their Career

In addition to many performances on Ralph Emery's morning television show, Naomi elicited an audition for RCA Records while tending a hospitalized relation of label producer Brent Maher. With a past that read like a Judith Krantz novel, the Judds -- so the executives considered -- would have more than an even chance in the country market. An exploratory mini-album, which contained proved the executives correct. The single "Had a Dream (From the Heart)" peaked at No. 17 in 1984. Later that year, the Judds scored their first of 14 No. 1 hits with "Mama He's Crazy."

Self-composed songs included Naomi's 1989 composition "Change of Heart," dedicated to her future second husband (and former Elvis Presley backing vocalist) Larry Strickland. Meanwhile, Maher co-wrote hits such as 1985's Grammy-winning "Why Not Me," "Turn It Loose," "Girls Night Out," "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Ol' Days)" and "Rockin' With the Rhythm of the Rain."

Most Judds records exhibited an acoustic bias and a penchant for star guests that included the Jordanaires on "Don't Be Cruel," Emmylou Harris on "The Sweetest Gift," Mark Knopfler on his "Water of Love" and Bonnie Raitt playing slide guitar on the album Love Can Build a Bridge. In 1988, the pair became the first female country act to found their own booking agency (Pro-Tours), but a chronic hepatitis infection forced Naomi to retire from the concert stage two years later.

After the Split & Life Today

The Judds toured America in a series of farewell concerts before Wynonna began her solo career. Wynonna got off to a strong start, as her first four singles both went to #1. Her 1994 single "Girls With Guitars" featured Naomi (as well as Lyle Lovett) on backup vocals.

In 1998, The Judds appeared in a commercial for the retail chain Kmart, singing a Song as the Judds "Changing For the Better".

In 1999, Wynonna reunited with her mother for a New Year's Eve concert in Phoenix. The following year, the duo recorded four new tracks for a bonus disc issued with Wynonna's album New Day Dawning, and undertook a multi-city tour. The results were issued as the album Reunion Live. A 2004 single, "Flies On The Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)" was recorded with Naomi; however, the single was credited as "Wynonna with Naomi Judd" instead of "The Judds".

Discography

Albums

• 1984 The Judds: Wynonna & Naomi
• 1984 Why Not Me
• 1985 Rockin' with the Rhythm
• 1986 Give a Little Love
• 1987 Heartland
• 1987 Christmas Time with the Judds
• 1988 Greatest Hits
• 1989 River of Time
• 1990 Love Can Build a Bridge
• 1991 Greatest Hits Volume Two
• 1992 #1's
• 1995 The Essential Judds
• 2000 Reunion (Live)

Singles

• 1983 "Had a Dream (for The Heart)" -- Wynonna & Naomi
• 1984 "Mama He's Crazy" -- Why Not Me
• 1984 "Why Not Me" -- Why Not Me
• 1984 "Girls Night Out" -- Why Not Me
• 1984 "Love Is Alive" -- Why Not Me
• 1985 "Have Mercy" -- Rockin' With The Rhythm
• 1986 "Grandpa (Tell Me 'Bout The Good Old Days)" -- Rockin' With The Rhythm
• 1986 "Rockin' With The Rhythm Of The Rain" -- Rockin' With The Rhythm
• 1986 "Cry Myself To Sleep" -- Rockin' With The Rhythm
• 1987 "Don't Be Cruel" (w/ The Jordanaires) -- Heartland
• 1987 "I Know Where I'm Going" -- Heartland
• 1987 "Maybe Your Baby's Got The Blues" -- Heartland
• 1988 "Turn It Loose" -- Heartland
• 1988 "Give A Little Love" -- Greatest Hits
• 1988 "Change Of Heart" -- Greatest Hits
• 1989 "Young Love" -- River Of Time
• 1989 "Let Me Tell You About Love" -- River Of Time
• 1989 "One Man Woman" -- River Of Time
• 1990 "Guardian Angels" -- River Of Time
• 1990 "Born To Be Blue" -- Love Can Build a Bridge
• 1990 "Love Can Build a Bridge" -- Love Can Build a Bridge
• 1991 "One Hundred And Two" -- Love Can Build a Bridge
• 1991 "John Deere Tractor" -- Greatest Hits Vol. 2
• 1998 "Silver Bells" -- Silver Bells
• 2000 "Stuck in Love" -- Big Bang Boogie
• 2004 "Flies on the Butter (You Can't Go Home Again)" -- What The World Needs Now Is Love

Awards

Total of 61 awards including 6 Grammy's.

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

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