‘She was very fragile’: Wynonna Judd reveals the last time she sang with her mother Naomi before the icon’s death at 76 she seemed ‘nervous, a little bit off’

Wynonna Judd (pictured right) is looking back at the last time she sang on a stage with her mother Naomi Judd (pictured left); Naomi shocked the world when she died taking her life at age 76 on April 30, 2022 in Tennessee. Wynonna shared on the Today show's podcast Making Space With Hoda Kotb that she could see warning signs that her mom was not doing that well when they sang together in April 2022 at the CMT Awards in Nashville. 'She was very fragile,' the 58-year-old crooner said of her mother's demeanor that night, adding that she was a little 'off' when she wore that unusual wig on stage. Wynonna also shared that her mother was late, which was very unlike her.

Wynonna Judd (pictured right) is looking back at the last time she sang on a stage with her mother Naomi Judd (pictured left); Naomi shocked the world when she died taking her life at age 76 on April 30, 2022 in Tennessee. Wynonna shared on the Today show’s podcast Making Space With Hoda Kotb that she could see warning signs that her mom was not doing that well when they sang together in April 2022 at the CMT Awards in Nashville. ‘She was very fragile,’ the 58-year-old crooner said of her mother’s demeanor that night, adding that she was a little ‘off’ when she wore that unusual wig on stage. Wynonna also shared that her mother was late, which was very unlike her.

The famous mother/daughter team belted out their 1990 single Love Can Build A Bridge at the CMT Awards. But as they harmonized, Wynonna saw worry in her mother's eyes. 'I think it's because she hadn't sung in a long time,' she explained. 'And I think when our parents get older, their world gets smaller. And she was late (that night), and she is never late. I think she was nervous. And I think it was so much of an expectation to do it for CMT Awards, and I just think it was, like, imagine being that nervous and having to go out.'

The famous mother/daughter team belted out their 1990 single Love Can Build A Bridge at the CMT Awards. But as they harmonized, Wynonna saw worry in her mother’s eyes. ‘I think it’s because she hadn’t sung in a long time,’ she explained. ‘And I think when our parents get older, their world gets smaller. And she was late (that night), and she is never late. I think she was nervous. And I think it was so much of an expectation to do it for CMT Awards, and I just think it was, like, imagine being that nervous and having to go out.’

Wynonna was also taken aback by her mother's colorful wig. 'The first thought in my head was, no, I don't want to hug her or comfort her. I want to pull her wig off,' she recalled. 'Because that was the dynamics of our relationship. It was tough and tender.' The relationship between Wynonna and Naomi was complicated. They were both 'alpha and determined' and they struggled to be warm toward each other. 'It was sometimes hard for me to be tender with mom, because I'm the lead singer, and I'm on my own version of life, on my own journey,' Judd shared. 'And I think it occurred to me, though. All of a sudden, she looked at me and blinked, and I knew then that something wasn't right in terms of her being off a little bit, like, nervous. I softened, which I think is God's grace. I just kind of reached out and touched her hand, like, "I'm here. I got you. It's OK."'

Wynonna was also taken aback by her mother’s colorful wig. ‘The first thought in my head was, no, I don’t want to hug her or comfort her. I want to pull her wig off,’ she recalled. ‘Because that was the dynamics of our relationship. It was tough and tender.’ The relationship between Wynonna and Naomi was complicated. They were both ‘alpha and determined’ and they struggled to be warm toward each other. ‘It was sometimes hard for me to be tender with mom, because I’m the lead singer, and I’m on my own version of life, on my own journey,’ Judd shared. ‘And I think it occurred to me, though. All of a sudden, she looked at me and blinked, and I knew then that something wasn’t right in terms of her being off a little bit, like, nervous. I softened, which I think is God’s grace. I just kind of reached out and touched her hand, like, “I’m here. I got you. It’s OK.”‘

She added, 'I'm glad I did that, because that was the last time we performed together. I'm glad I didn't stay stuck in my perfectionism is my point, I guess.' The last thing Wynonna told her mother before she died was 'I love you.' And she has not stopped talking to her, even in death, added Wynonna. Pictured: Miranda Lambert, Wynonna Judd, and Naomi Judd attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022.

She added, ‘I’m glad I did that, because that was the last time we performed together. I’m glad I didn’t stay stuck in my perfectionism is my point, I guess.’ The last thing Wynonna told her mother before she died was ‘I love you.’ And she has not stopped talking to her, even in death, added Wynonna. Pictured: Miranda Lambert, Wynonna Judd, and Naomi Judd attend the 2022 CMT Music Awards at Nashville Municipal Auditorium on April 11, 2022.

'I had a lot of conversations with her. I'm constantly talking to her about, "Well, what the hell am I supposed to do about wardrobe?" Because she was always the wardrobe (person). And the conversations get heavy at times. I talk to her a lot about (how) I don't understand, I don't understand, I don't understand. I kept saying, "Why, why, why did you do this? Why did you do this? Why did you do this?" I talk a lot to her... I'm still struggling big time with, "Why did you do this?"' said Wynonna as it is clear she is struggling with a lot of pain from her mother taking her life.

‘I had a lot of conversations with her. I’m constantly talking to her about, “Well, what the hell am I supposed to do about wardrobe?” Because she was always the wardrobe (person). And the conversations get heavy at times. I talk to her a lot about (how) I don’t understand, I don’t understand, I don’t understand. I kept saying, “Why, why, why did you do this? Why did you do this? Why did you do this?” I talk a lot to her… I’m still struggling big time with, “Why did you do this?”‘ said Wynonna as it is clear she is struggling with a lot of pain from her mother taking her life.

'I talk to her a lot about, "What am I supposed to do now? We were supposed to do a record together. We were supposed to do this tour together. We're supposed to, we're supposed to..." Life is a mystery, you know?' she continued. Then Wynonna touched on her mother's kindness. Pictured: Naomi, Ashley and Wynonna at the 22nd annual Academy Of Country Music Awards in 1987.

‘I talk to her a lot about, “What am I supposed to do now? We were supposed to do a record together. We were supposed to do this tour together. We’re supposed to, we’re supposed to…” Life is a mystery, you know?’ she continued. Then Wynonna touched on her mother’s kindness. Pictured: Naomi, Ashley and Wynonna at the 22nd annual Academy Of Country Music Awards in 1987.

'My mother was very kind,' the 'singer said. '(She) always made people feel, whether it was a limo driver or the maid in the hallway, she always spoke to everyone. She will be remembered for that, the kindness. And the ones that didn't know her, I would say give her a break, because they're going to judge her based on what they know about her killing herself. And she wants her mother to be reminded as a 'great songwriter.' The singer added, 'She is still my queen.' Pictured: Naomi with her daughters Wynonna , left, and Ashley, right, in the early 1970s.

‘My mother was very kind,’ the ‘singer said. ‘(She) always made people feel, whether it was a limo driver or the maid in the hallway, she always spoke to everyone. She will be remembered for that, the kindness. And the ones that didn’t know her, I would say give her a break, because they’re going to judge her based on what they know about her killing herself. And she wants her mother to be reminded as a ‘great songwriter.’ The singer added, ‘She is still my queen.’ Pictured: Naomi with her daughters Wynonna , left, and Ashley, right, in the early 1970s.