Wynonna Judd expressed her gratitude at the CMA Awards for “love and support” following her mom Naomi Judd’s death.
“In death there is life, and here I am,” Judd said, referencing her mother’s death by suicide in April. “Thank you for your love and support.
“These past six months have been a time to grieve and a time to be grateful. I am humbled and honored tonight to still have a seat at the table of country music. I have the opportunity of presenting the CMA Award for Duo, which mom and I won seven times,” she added.
Grammy-winning duo the Judds had planned their final tour before Naomi’s death, and Wynonna decided to continue it without her late mother.
The 58-year-old was presenting the award for Vocal Duo, which Brothers Osborne won for the fifth year in a row.
When accepting their award, the duo praised Judd for her career as well as her courage.
“To be here tonight and to be in the presence of Wynonna, while winning this award, will be one of the biggest highlights of my entire life,” T.J. Osborne said.
“It’s an absolute honor. We’ve learned so much from you and your family,” John Osborne added.
Naomi Judd died by suicide at age 76 after a long battle with mental illness.
“Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness. We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public,” Wynonna and Ashley Judd said in a statement at the time. “We are in unknown territory.”