Naomi Judd Estate To Reveal Virtual Exhibit Of Rare Artifacts In May

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Photo: Courtesy of the Naomi Judd Estate

The Naomi Judd Estate is debuting a series of virtual exhibits of rare and never-before-seen artifacts from the life of the late artist, activist and philanthropist in collaboration with Definitive Authentic and Mercy Community Healthcare.

The first collection entitled “Artist” will be publicly available on May 1—the two-year anniversary of The Judds‘ induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. “Artist” is the first installment of five archival collections to be rolled out throughout 2024, with each forthcoming collection highlighting a different area of Judd’s incredible life and work.

The Estate has curated a virtual exhibit of rare items that spotlight the impact of Judd’s creative work on country music and American culture at large. Featuring behind-the-scenes photos, awards, a personal stage map with handwritten notes, a shooting script for the “Grandpa” music video, countless well-wishes from country music luminaries and more, the “Artist” artifact collection frames the icon as not only a beloved musician, but a figure whose vision went well beyond the recording studio, as evidenced by her lifelong support of numerous philanthropic causes.

In tribute to that philanthropic spirit, a portion of the proceeds from the exhibits will be donated to The Naomi Judd Mental Health Clinic: A Bridge to Hope—a brand new mental health wing at Mercy Community Healthcare in Franklin, Tennessee. The facility includes a larger mental health area with counseling/psychiatric rooms, a parent-child interactive therapy room, group rooms, a waiting room and a prayer area.

“It is such a blessing for me to honor my wife’s life by giving the fans a look into the detailed archives that Naomi kept all of these years,” says Judd’s husband Larry Strickland. “I’d often walk through the barn and wonder why she insisted on keeping all of these objects that at the time seemed to be collecting dust; however, I now see that these were more than just things. These were her memories… our memories. These releases are our family’s gift to you, her public, for being there for all of us for the past 40 years. I hope they bring you a sense of peace and hope in regards to her memory and the legacy that is Naomi Judd.”

“Naomi kept meticulous records of photographs and artifacts,” says Director of Hill Entertainment Group and Naomi Judd Estate Archivist Kodi Chandler. “Through these we are able to explore how she viewed herself. It is our honor to help the family curate these collections for release. This first collection, simply titled ‘Artist’ is how she documented her time as she was best known, as one half of The Judds. The subsequent collections introduce and revisit other facets of Naomi that we can’t wait to share with those who meant the most to her, the fans.”

Lorie Hollabaugh
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