New details emerged Friday on country singer Naomi Judd’s tragic death. The disclosure came to light in a court petition to seal the records into the investigation of Naomi Judd’s suicide.
Actress Ashley Judd revealed Friday that she found her mother alive after she shot herself and waited with her mother for 30 minutes before help arrived.
Naomi Judd’s death came on April 30th at her home in Tennessee, the day before she was due to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. The legendary country music singer was 76.
Naomi’s husband Larry Strickland and daughters Ashley and Wynonna Judd filed an extended petition to seal records containing video and audio interviews with relatives in the immediate aftermath of Judd’s death. Naomi’s family said releasing such details would cause “significant trauma and irreparable harm.”
The family released in a statement:
“Our family continues to grieve together privately, in unity and community, recognizing our mother’s beauty and talents as a gift to the world,” the statement said. “There has been misinformation circulated as we continue to mourn and we lament that. We ask news organizations only to cover facts. And as we recognize other families struggling as a loved one faces mental health crises, we encourage them to seek help through NAMI: The National Alliance on Mental Illness at 800-950-6264 or call 988 available 24 hours a day .”
Media organizations have requested documents from the investigation but Ashley Judd said it would violate the family’s privacy. The Associated Press reports that Ashley Judd argues she was in “clinical shock, active trauma and acute distress” when she spoke to law enforcement and does not want video or audio of those raw moments made public.
The Judds released six studio albums and an EP between 1984 and 1991 garnering nine Country Music Association Awards and seven more from the Academy of Country Music. Their discography includes 14 number 1 hit songs including “Why Not Me”, “Momma He’s Crazy”, and “Have Mercy”.
Naomi Judd
at the TCA Hallmark Channel and Cable Day, Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, CA 08-02-12
May her soul rest in peace.
If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741