Naomi Judd of the Grammy-winning duo The Judds has died at the age of 76

Nashville, Tennessee (AP) – Naomi Judd, the Kentucky-born Grammy-winning singer of The Judds, and the mother of Wynonna and Ashley Judd have died. She was 76.

The daughters announced her death Saturday in a statement to the Associated Press.

“Today, we sisters experienced a tragedy. “We lost our beautiful mother to a mental illness,” the statement said. “We are broken. We are guided by deep sorrow and we know that as we loved her, she was loved by her audience. We are in unfamiliar territory. “The statement did not provide further details.

The Judds were due to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday and have just announced an arena tour that will begin in the fall, their first tour together in more than a decade.

The mother-daughter performers brought 14 songs № 1 into a career that lasted nearly three decades. After rising to the top of country music, they gave up in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis.

Judd’s hits include “Love Can Build a Bridge” in 1990, “Mama He’s Crazy” in 1984, “Why Not Me” in 1984, “Turn It Loose” in 1988, and “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 Winona began singing together professionally. Their unique harmonies, together with elements of acoustic music, bluegrass and blues, highlight them in the genre of that time.

Judd released six studio albums and an EP between 1984 and 1991 and won nine Country Music Association Awards and seven from the Country Academy. They won a total of five Grammy Awards together for hits such as “Why Not Me” and “Give A Little Love”.

The Jews sang about family, faith in marriage, and the virtue of fidelity. Because Naomi looked so young, the two were mistaken for sisters early in their careers.

Ashley Judd’s daughter is an actor known for her roles in films such as “Kiss the Girls”, “Double Jeopardy” and “Heat”.

Naomi Judd also survived her husband and fellow singer Larry Strickland, who was Elvis Presley’s backup singer.