You can't be a fan of country music without having an infinite amount of respect for The Judds. A mother-daughter duo from the mountains of Kentucky, Naomi and Wynonna Judd established themselves as one of the most successful duos of country music history. With an official retirement of the duo in 1991, fans were excited to see the news they were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame earlier this year. However, the happiness soon turned to mourning when it was revealed that matriarch of the group, Naomi, had passed away after a lengthy and bravely public mental health battle.
The rollercoaster of emotions didn't end there. Wynonna revealed shortly after her Mother's passing that the tour they had already planned would continue - with special guests joining her each night to stand by her side as she performed her and her Mother's greatest hits. It was a no-brainer that I had to attend this tour and I wanted to attend the final show of the tour in Lexington, Kentucky... just a few hours from where The Judds grew up!
I traveled to the quaint but cute Kentucky town with a friend from Texas and we attended the show in our custom-made Judds shirts that got all the attention! The best part of the night, though, was when the pre-concert drinks were hitting at dinner before the show and we made the last-minute decision to upgrade to SECOND ROW.
Wynonna was joined by none other than Faith Hill, another country music titan, as she performed The Judds hits that we we've all celebrated for years. From the dramatic opening of "Had A Dream" to a Wynonna single "Tell Me Why," to the classic that will always move you to tears... "Love Can Build a Bridge," one of the incredible songs written by Naomi Judd herself.
Faith Hill wasn't the only special guest, either... Brandi Carlile also made a surprise appearance, singing alongside Wynonna for a number of performances.
I could go into detail about how this show moved me emotionally, how it was representative and celebratory of all women in country music, and how simply that Wynonna is hands down one of the greatest musicians and vocalists AND performers of our time... but if I did that perhaps you wouldn't witness the magic yourself. And luckily for you, you can. While the show I bought tickets for was intended to be the last, Wynonna has since announced an additional 15 tour dates due to demand and well-reception of the tour.
If you've ever loved country music for even a day of your life, this show is for you.
The Judds FOREVER.