Today, in collaboration with Definitive Authentic and Mercy Community Healthcare, The Naomi Judd Estate has released ‘Artist’, the first in a series of virtual exhibits of rare and never-before-seen artifacts from the life of activist, philanthropist, and American cultural icon Naomi Judd. Today’s release commemorates the two-year anniversary of The Judds induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, Country music’s highest honor.
Featuring behind-the-scenes photos, awards, a personal stage map with handwritten notes, a shooting script for the "Grandpa" music video, countless well-wishes from country music luminaries, and more, the Naomi Judd ‘Artist’ artifact collection frames the icon as not only a beloved musician, but a figure whose groundbreaking vision went well beyond the recording studio, as evidenced by her lifelong support of numerous philanthropic causes. In tribute to that philanthropic spirit, a portion of the proceeds from this exhibit (and the following exhibits) will be donated to The Naomi Judd Mental Health Clinic: A Bridge to Hope - a brand new mental health wing at Mercy Community Healthcare in Franklin, TN.
The Naomi Judd ‘Artist’ collection can be viewed here: www.naomijuddlegacy.com
The ‘Artist’ collection was announced by the Estate on April 16th and was notably previewed by Billboard, American Songwriter, and People Magazine, who stated “fans of the late Naomi Judd will soon be able to feel connected to her in an all-new way.”
Speaking about the collection, Wynonna Judd commented: “Mom was always the family historian. She had over a hundred scrapbooks and photo albums organized by decade, year, month. She was so proud of her collection. I am thrilled to be able to share her personal and professional archives to give Judd fans a glimpse into her life and who she was, and to continue to honor the legacy of Naomi Judd.”
Ashley Judd also noted: "What a sweet and meaningful opportunity to connect with Mom, to share with our family what mattered to her. She was a great one to squirrel away pieces that were endowed with story. Now, together, we can hear from her, and remember for ourselves where we were when these things were unfolding in our own lives, learn more about her internal life, and connect with the special woman she was. Thank you for joining us on our ongoing family journey."
The release of the Naomi Judd ‘Artist’ collection kicks off a packed 2024 for Judd fans around the world, with several exciting announcements coming in the near future. Notably, there will be the first-ever vinyl release in the US of The Judds final studio album, Love Can Build A Bridge (1990), to include lyric sheets and never before seen photos from Naomi's personal scrapbooks, among other exciting projects. More info to come.
