Country music legend Wynonna Judd recently raised some concern among her fans following her opening performance at the 2023 CMA Awards. The 59-year-old icon, who took the stage to sing “Need a Favor” alongside Jelly Roll, prompted fans to worry about her well-being during the performance.

In response to the commentary surrounding her appearance, Judd took to Instagram and TikTok to address her fans’ concerns, showing she was well aware of the buzz. “‘Don’t read the comments’ they say…” she wrote in her Instagram post.

Her TikTok video revealed her reading a headline that mentioned fans expressing concern after watching her and Jelly Roll open the prestigious awards show. She admitted her nervousness during the performance, albeit while smiling. “I’m just gonna come clean with y’all. I was so freaking nervous,” she confessed. “I got out there, and I looked at Jelly Roll. I wanted it to be so good for him. I could cry right now, but I’m not going to because I’m such a fan of his, and he asked me to sing, and I said, ‘Absolutely!’ I got out there, and I was so nervous that I just held on for dear life. And that’s the bottom line.”

@wynonnajuddofficial “Don’t read the comments” they say… #cma ♬ original sound – Wynonna Judd

Judd, known for her remarkable voice and heartfelt performances, expressed her gratitude and admiration for Jelly Roll, with whom she shared the stage. She emphasized her commitment to passing on the generosity that others have shown her throughout her career.

“I have to show up for people like people did me,” she said in an interview with ET’s Rachel Smith after her CMA Awards performance. “That’s my job now is to pass it on because people have been so generous with me, and now it’s my turn to be generous with people like Jelly Roll, and that’s what I’m doing.”

Wynonna Judd also opened up about her own health journey and the emotional moments she has experienced on stage, reminding her fans that she’s only human. “I have my ups and my downs, and that’s life, and I’m just telling the fans… Like the other night, I got emotional, I felt Mom. And I got overcome, and I just said, ‘I need some water and I need somebody to hold onto me for a second while I take a deep breath and cry.’ And I just do it because that’s the way life is,” she candidly shared.

Wynonna Judd’s mother, Naomi Judd, passed away in April 2022, making her recent performances all the more emotionally charged. At the CMA Awards, Jelly Roll and K. Michelle paid tribute to Wynonna and Naomi’s mother-daughter duo, The Judds, by singing their song, “Love Can Build a Bridge.”

Jelly Roll shared that he sought Wynonna’s blessing before performing the tribute, highlighting therespect he has for her. “I have an immense amount of respect for Wynonna,” Jelly Roll stated on the red carpet. “I grew up listening to The Judds. I love Wynonna. And she said, ‘Not only do I want you to do it. I want you to do it big!'”

The 2023 CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, aired live on November 8 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and is now available for streaming on Hulu. Check out Judd and Jelly Roll’s performance below.

How do you think Judd’s emotional CMA Awards performance reflects her resilience and heartfelt commitment to her craft?