Celebrity
Naomi Judd’s husband shares a heartfelt story about her last day on earth
"I've made a decision, and I thought I'd share it on national television."
Gianella Argao
05.23.22

Around late April, shocking news shook the music industry: country superstar Naomi Judd tragically died by suicide at the age of 76.

On May 15, Larry Strickland, Naomi Judd’s husband, together with their daughters, Ashley Judd and Wynonna Judd, held a beautiful memorial for the light of their home called CMT’s Naomi Judd: A River of Time.

Strickland shared a beautiful story.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Naomi Judd (@thenaomijudd)

“Naomi never met a stranger,” the widower fondly recalled. “Much to my displeasure, she would start a conversation with anyone who made eye contact with her and we would end up standing 10, 20, 30 minutes on a sidewalk while she talked to a complete stranger about their passions and their dog.”

He continued to share that Naomi decided to take the flight home from Nashville to Vienna, Austria to attend the Country Music Hall of Fame ceremony.

She was about to be inducted.

Strickland said that his wife flying alone wasn’t exactly ordinary.

Youtube - Taste of Country
Source:
Youtube - Taste of Country

“I was really scared to death about her flying alone all the way from Vienna back to Nashville ’cause I knew how fragile she was,” he said. “Well, she made the flight home without any problem.”

A touching email

He then proceeded to tell a story about receiving an unexpected email from a passenger regarding his late wife.

On her flight home, she managed to meet and share some time with a passenger. This passenger apparently found out about the passing of Naomi.

Youtube - Taste of Country
Source:
Youtube - Taste of Country

The email started with, “Larry, you don’t know me, we’ve never met but I was fortunate enough to meet your late wife recently who for some reason, only she knew, gave me your card on Friday of last week.”

The passenger said that she sat next to Naomi on that flight and the two were able to strike up a great conversation.

A beautiful memory shared

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A post shared by Naomi Judd (@thenaomijudd)

“It’s a small comfort, I’m sure, but my life seems a lot richer after meeting your wife, however briefly,” the email read. “Obviously, I didn’t know Naomi at all, but I can tell you she spoke highly and warmly of you, and the life you shared together. Rest assured she loved you and had no qualms about telling me, a stranger on a plane, that was so.”

Indeed, that simple email gave Strickland “great, great pleasure and comfort.”

Just goes to show that even while battling demons inside her, Naomi remained to be a source of joy and sunshine to so many people.

Youtube - Taste of Country
Source:
Youtube - Taste of Country

Wynonna and Ashley also shared.

Wynonna, who was a part of the musical duo The Judds together with her mom, revealed the plan she had decided on.

“I’ve made a decision, and I thought I’d share it on national television that after a lot of thought, I’m gonna have to honor her and do this tour,” she announced. “The show must go on, as hard as it may be, and we will show up together.”

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A post shared by Naomi Judd (@thenaomijudd)

Her legacy truly continues through her husband and beautiful daughters.

See Strickland honor his late wife in the video below.

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