Brad Paisley's Tribute to Naomi Judd Has Country Music Fans in Tears

Naomi Judd died on April 30, and fans are still heartbroken over the news. After her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame the day after her death, the celebration of her life continued with a CMT special, Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration.

Naomi's daughter Ashley revealed on Instagram, "Our family service was breathtaking, with Appalachian mountain spirituals Mom wanted, like 'Ain’t No Grave Gonna Hold My Body Down.' Mom also wanted one for the fans, whom she loved so much. So this one is for you."

The special brought together Naomi's daughters, Ashley and Wynonna, and other country music stars to share stories of the icon and sing her songs at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium. Performers included Ashley McBryde, Little Big Town, and Carly Pearce, and Naomi's friends, including Reese Witherspoon, Morgan Freeman, and Reba McEntire, shared video messages.

Brad Paisley also took the stage for a powerful performance of The Judds' 1989 song “Young Love (Strong Love).” He explained that he opened for the duo when he was just a teenager. Brad said, “It was a big deal to open for them then, but a bigger deal to do this for them now.”

Fans left comments like, "Naomi would have loved to hear this from you. Thank you @bradpaisley" and "Beautiful!! I’m sure Naomi was smiling down on everyone! ❤️🤍🙏"

During the memorial, Wynonna announced that she will go on with The Judds' final tour later this year. She told the crowd, “Tonight, as we close, I say the show must go on as hard as it may be, and you will carry me just as you did for 38 years. It’s so devastatingly beautiful what happened here tonight. So, we will continue this spectacle. That’s what she would want."

After the live event, there was a procession down Broadway in Nashville. Ashley and Wynonna waved at fans who lined the streets. We can't think of a more fitting tribute for this legendary singer.

If you missed the live performance, you can log in with your cable provider and watch it on CMT.com, or tune in for re-airings on CMT: Thursday, May 19, at 9p/8c and 5/21, Saturday at 12p/11c.

If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

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