Naomi Judd Cut Daughters Ashley & Wynonna Out Of $25M Will
Singer Naomi Judd cut her daughters Ashley Judd and Wynonna Judd out of her $25 million dollar will.
Earlier this year, the country music community was shocked and saddened to hear that Naomi had lost her long battle with mental illness and taken her own life at age 76.
Naomi Judd Left No Reason Why She Left Her Two Daughters Out Of Her Will
In a surprising decision, Naomi left her estate and her fortune, which is reported to be around $25 million dollars, to her husband, Larry Strickland, who she married in May 1989.
The Blast was able to confirm the existence of the court document, which states, “I nominate and appoint my spouse, Larry Strickland, as Executor of my estate.”
The document continues, “In the event my spouse ceases or fails to serve, then I nominate and appoint my brother-in-law, Reginald Strickland, and Daniel Kris Wiatr as Co-Executors. I direct that no bond shall be required of my Executor.”
RadarOnline.com, which first broke the news, reported that Wynonna is "upset" at her mother's decision. Wynonna and Naomi made up the country music duo that performed together as The Judds, and “believes she was a major force behind her mother’s success.”
Naomi Was Of 'Sound Mind' When Creating Her Will In 2017
As Page Six reported, the document did not state if either of Naomi's two daughters were named as beneficiaries of any of her assets.
In the court document, Naomi asked that her husband have “full authority and discretion” over any property that is an asset to her estate “without the approval of any court” or permission from any beneficiary of the estate.
In the documents, Naomi also asked for her husband to receive “reasonable compensation” for his services, and that he would be reimbursed for all “reasonable expenses, advances, and disbursements, including attorney’s and accountant’s fees, made or incurred in the administration of my estate.”
As Page Six reported, Melissa Sitzler, a senior account manager at a Tennessee law firm called Wiatr & Associates, and another individual named Abigail Muelder signed as witnesses when the document was created on November 20, 2017.
They could attest that Naomi was of “sound mind, memory and understanding, and not under any restraint or in any respect incompetent to make a Last Will and Testament.”
Ashley Judd Reveals Her Mother Took Her Own Life With A Firearm
In May, her daughter Ashley disclosed that Naomi had passed away of a self-inflicted firearm wound, as per Variety. Ashley had appeared on “Good Morning America” and spoke with Diane Sawyer about her mother’s tragic passing. “She used a weapon… a firearm,” she recalled, her voice wavering with emotion. “So that’s the piece of information we’re very uncomfortable sharing.”
Ashley said that she felt wanted to disclose the details surrounding her mother’s sudden death to highlight the importance of mental health and provide fans who need help the resources they need to find help before it’s too late.
“When you’re talking about mental illness, it’s important to distinguish between the loved one and the disease,” Ashley explained, adding, “My mother knew that she was seen and she was heard in her anguish and she was walked home.”
Naomi Judd Was Candid About Her Struggles With 'Severe Depression'
In 2016, Naomi Judd told Good Morning America that she suffered from “extreme” and “severe depression.” At the time, she described how her depression only got worse when she and Wynonna, stopped touring after she was diagnosed with Hepatitis C.
“[Fans] see me in rhinestones, you know, with glitter in my hair, that really is who I am,” she told host Robin Roberts at the time. “But then I would come home and not leave the house for three weeks, and not get out of my pajamas, and not practice normal hygiene. It was really bad.”
“When I came off the tour I went into this deep, dark absolutely terrifying hole and I couldn’t get out,” she admitted. “I spent two years on my couch.”
That same year, Naomi wrote a book called “River of Time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged With Hope.” In her candid memoir, she confessed that she had seriously considered taking her own life on a bridge near her farm.
Larry Strickland Says That Naomi Was 'Fragile' Before Her Sudden Passing
In May, CMT aired a “Naomi Judd: A River of Time” special that gave fans another look at all of the contributions Naomi made to country music. Her husband of 33 years, Larry Strickland, described Naomi as “fragile” in the days leading up to her death.
“Namoi never met a stranger,” Larry said, as reported by PEOPLE. “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 described a time when Naomi flew alone from Austria to Nashville for the Country Music Hall of Fame Ceremony, which took place only one day after she took her own life. Larry noted that it was unusual for his wife to fly alone.
“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 recalled. “Well, she made the flight home back to Nashville without any problem.”
During the flight, Naomi had apparently struck up a conversation with the man who was sitting next to her. The man sent Larry an email shortly afterward, calling meeting Naomi “a relief and a comfort.”
“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,” the letter had said. “Rest assured she loved you and had no qualms about telling me, a stranger on a plane, that was so.”
The man told Larry about the “measure and impact” that Naomi left on him. Larry called the heartfelt message a “great, great pleasure and comfort to me.”
Those interested can click here to read further updates along with family attorneys speculating why Naomi decided not to name her daughters in her will.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or text TALK to Crisis Text Line at 741741. Both services are available 24/7.
