Her daughter Ashley said on “Good Morning America” last week that her mother shot herself.
Brad Paisley and Emmylou Harris were among the performers who took the stage to honor Naomi Judd during “The River of Time” memorial service, which was broadcast live on CMT.
Wynonna Judd returned to the stage later to perform “The Rose” with Brandi Carlile. Wynonna Judd paused her performance at one point so that she could redo a section of the song better, her voice soaring as the crowd cheered.
The ceremony began with Judd’s daughter Ashley delivering a eulogy that traced her mother’s life from its humble beginnings in Kentucky to the heights of superstardom.
“We are here tonight remembering an icon and a legend who left country music better than she found it,” Ashley Judd said tearfully.
“She was every woman. Perhaps this is why everyone felt they knew her,” the actor said. “She was a nurse. She was a single mom who sometimes relied on public assistance. She was traumatized by early childhood sexual abuse, intimate partner violence, and rape, and she was fired by a boss when she refused to go away with him for a weekend.
“Tonight, we remember her in song,” the actor said, introducing her sister Wynonna who sang “River of Time.”
The lyrics — “I’m holding back a flood of tears, just thinking ’bout those happy years, like all the good times that are no more,” filled the Ryman Auditorium, which both Judd daughters noted was country music’s “Mother Church.”
Carly Pearce performed the Judds’ “Why Not Me,” noting “I’m a Kentucky girl myself,” and saying she had an image in her mind that “Naomi’s flipping her skirt in heaven tonight.”
Wynonna Judd, left, and Brandi Carlile sing “The Rose,” during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Wynonna Judd, left, and Brandi Carlile sing “The Rose,” during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
A church choir and spectators sing “Love Can Build A Bridge,” along with Wynonna Judd during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd in the Ryman Auditorium, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. The fans that the spectators hold show a picture of Naomi Judd as a child. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
A church choir and spectators sing “Love Can Build A Bridge,” along with Wynonna Judd during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd in the Ryman Auditorium, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. The fans that the spectators hold show a picture of Naomi Judd as a child. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Wynonna Judd speaks during a tribute to her mother, country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Wynonna Judd speaks during a tribute to her mother, country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Ashley Judd speaks during a tribute to her mother, country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Ashley Judd speaks during a tribute to her mother, country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Ashley Judd speaks during a tribute to her mother, country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Ashley Judd speaks during a tribute to her mother, country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Wynonna Judd, left, and Brandi Carlile sing “The Rose” during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Wynonna Judd, left, and Brandi Carlile sing “The Rose” during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Ashley Judd, left, and Wynonna Judd speak during a tribute to their mother, country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Ashley Judd, left, and Wynonna Judd speak during a tribute to their mother, country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Wynonna Judd performs during a tribute to her mother, country music star Naomi Judd, in the Ryman Auditorium Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Wynonna Judd performs during a tribute to her mother, country music star Naomi Judd, in the Ryman Auditorium Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Wynonna Judd, left, and Brandi Carlile sing “The Rose,” during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Wynonna Judd, left, and Brandi Carlile sing “The Rose,” during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd, Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Larry Strickland, left, husband of Naomi Judd; Ashley Judd, center; and Wynonna Judd speak during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Larry Strickland, left, husband of Naomi Judd; Ashley Judd, center; and Wynonna Judd speak during a tribute to country music star Naomi Judd Sunday, May 15, 2022, in Nashville, Tenn. Naomi Judd died April 30. She was 76. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Credit: Mark Humphrey
Credit: Mark Humphrey
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