Pictured: Robert K. Oermann and Naomi Judd circa 1985. Photo: Beth Gwinn

In 1979, I was a librarian at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and an aspiring entertainer named Naomi Judd began visiting me there.

She was working as a receptionist for some small Music Row company. On her lunch hours, she’d walk over to the museum to admire its artifacts (in those days, it was located at the head of Music Row next to BMI). She’d sit at the library research tables and confide in me about her dreams and aspirations. She had black hair then, always wore full makeup and was stunningly beautiful with her porcelain complexion.

Naomi shared my enthusiasm for old-time country music, so we’d chat about Appalachian folk songs. She was a newcomer in Nashville, and she talked about the people she was meeting, or trying to meet, in the music biz.

Most of all, she talked about her teenage daughter, Wynonna, and about how talented she was as a singer. Naturally, she had a photo of Wy that she shared. I brushed off her praise of Wy’s voice as the bragging of a proud parent.

Naomi had an idea for a radio show that would star the two of them. The gist of it was that a snippet of a song would begin each episode, then Naomi would tell Wy the story behind the song. This would segue into a mini-play with actors dramatizing the lyric’s plot. The finale would be the mother-daughter duo singing the full song.

The museum’s oral historian at the time was John Lomax III. His whole family was steeped in folk music, so I roped him into our discussions. Both of us were intrigued by Naomi and her idea that we should script her brainchild.

I still think it’s a cool idea for a show. I suggested “The Titanic,” “Single Girl Married Girl,” “The Wreck of the Old ’97” and some other classics. We batted the radio idea around for a few weeks, but Naomi didn’t want things to start happening until after Wy finished high school.

In her 1993 autobiography, Naomi wrote, “Robert was gracious and informative. We shared an obvious love for music and its history,” she added, “but he didn’t know that I also considered him my first friend in Nashville.” She was right. I had no idea.

A few months later, she invited me to come hear their Judds duo open a show for the group Memphis during what we used to call “Deejay Week.” The moment I heard Wynonna’s voice, I realized that Mama wasn’t exaggerating. The kid was spectacular. They both were. They sang “The Sweetest Gift,” “I Want to Be a Cowboy’s Sweetheart” and some other well-curated tunes. They were astonishingly good that night, and I told her so.

We never found a sponsor for that radio show. She later reworked it as a TV pilot centered around the song “Banks of the Ohio.” That didn’t fly either.

The Judds moved to Franklin, where Naomi became a nurse. But we stayed in touch. She was one of the great correspondents, always mailing notes and cards. We also ran into each other at the Music Row watering holes Maude’s Courtyard and Close Quarters. She kept me up to date about their good fortune to sing on Ralph Emery’s early-morning local TV show as “The Soap Sisters” and landing a solo gig as a model posing with Conway Twitty on the jacket of his LP Lost in the Feeling.

Naomi had a big case of “the want-to’s.” There was a fire burning inside Mama Judd that nothing was going to put out. I admired her moxie, her ambition, her brains, her strength and her hustle.

I became a music reporter at The Tennessean and USA Today in 1981. Naomi continued to badger the music industry with steely will, ferocious persistence and impressive tenacity. She was propositioned, sexually harassed, insulted and dismissed, but Naomi Judd would not be denied. She insisted on a fair hearing for her gifted daughter. Armed with nothing more than a homemade cassette tape, her beauty and her Southern Belle charm, she did the nearly impossible. She made them listen. Gradually, she found believers. In 1983-84, The Judds became country stars, and I reported on their spectacular rise, chronicling the duo’s Cinderella saga via many interviews, feature stories, reviews and news items.

Naomi continued to write me. She enjoyed cutting out particularly clever cartoons and oddball newspaper clippings and mailing them with her quips. She was a great letter writer, too. Every now and then, a package arrived from her. Our house is scattered with her sweet gifts — a little picture frame, a paperweight, a devotional booklet, a photo album. I saved all of her Christmas cards, too, because she always designed and wrote them so beautifully.

The bass singer in Memphis was named Larry Strickland. In 1989, Naomi phoned to say, “Will you get your suit out of the cleaners and come to my wedding? Larry and I want you to be there.” Not as a journalist, she added, but as a friend. “I don’t want it to be a show-biz wedding at all.” She meant it, and it wasn’t. I was also with her when she tearfully announced her retirement and wept for her.

I’ve been with Naomi Judd in her kitchen, seated in ballrooms at awards banquets, backstage at sold-out concerts, behind the scenes at TV specials and standing at Gold Record parties. No one ever enjoyed stardom more.

“I have been through so much in my life,” she said. “I’ve had people die in my arms; I’ve been divorced, fired, slam-dunked and shot at….I have crawled over broken glass to get here.”

Over the years, I have met many personalities in Music City. Believe me when I tell you that Naomi Judd had personality to spare. She is utterly unforgettable.

Pictured (L-R): Valerie Ervin (Ray Charles Foundation president), Eddie Bayers, Wynonna Judd, Johnny Drake (son of the late Pete Drake) and Rose Drake (wife of the late Pete Drake) in the Hall of Fame Rotunda at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum before the induction of the 2021 class of Country Music Hall of Fame members. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Bobby Karl Works The Room

Chapter 654

This year’s Medallion Ceremony inducting the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame was full of first-time experiences.

The induction of Ray Charles was long overdue, and was celebrated as such. Pete Drake became the first steel guitarist to be inducted. Eddie Bayers is now the Hall’s first country drummer. Naomi Judd was unexpectedly inducted posthumously in The Judds, due to her death the previous day. Wendy Moten, The War & Treaty, Bettye LaVette, Tommy Sims and Old Crow Medicine Show drummer Jerry Pentecost comprised the largest Black musical presence at such an event in history.

Pictured: Inductee Wynonna Judd onstage for the class of 2021 medallion ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

The Medallion Ceremony took place on Sunday (May 1) in the Hall’s CMA Theater. To be frank, I was worried when I got the news about Naomi’s death on Saturday. I thought that the event might turn into a wake, and/or that the inductions of Charles, Bayers and Drake would be completely overshadowed.

Wynonna and her sister Ashley Judd urged the Hall to proceed as scheduled. The Hall responded by staging a supremely classy ceremony.

The musical intro to the event was Tom T. Hall’s 1971 eloquent country classic “A Million Miles to the City.” Museum CEO Kyle Young referred to its lyric throughout the ceremony. “Each of tonight’s inductees were fueled by dreams and words and melodies,” he said. Mary Ann McCready introduced the Circle Guard, a ceremonial elite consisting of Steve Turner, David Conrad, Bill Denny, Seab Tuck, Ken Levitan, Mike Milom and Jerry Williams.

Then came the processional of existing Hall of Famers—Randy Travis, Bill Anderson, Don Schlitz, Ray Stevens, Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry of Alabama, Bud Wendell, Bobby Braddock, Duane Allen of the Oaks, Ricky Skaggs, Garth Brooks, Ronnie Milsap and Marty Stuart. The CMA’s Sarah Trahern was the first to address Naomi’s passing. “Love: It fills this room,” she said. “Love sustains us and comforts us. Love Can Build a Bridge — The Judds taught us that, and love is Naomi’s legacy. We lost an industry icon….Each of these inductees is an inspiration to us all.”

Kyle asked for a moment of silence for Hall of Fame members Ralph Emery and Hargus “Pig” Robbins, both of whom have died since the last Medallion event. He then spoke of Naomi’s sudden passing, explaining that her family wished the ceremony to go on.

Pictured (L-R) Johnny Drake and Rose Drake accept Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum induction on behalf of Pete Drake presented by Charlie McCoy and CEO of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Kyle Young for the class of 2021 medallion ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

He introduced the induction of Pete Drake (1932-1988), describing Drake as “one of America’s prime music innovators.” Drake invented the “talk box” device showcased on his 1964 steel-guitar hit “Forever” and later adopted by rock stars Peter Frampton, Joe Walsh and others. Drake also promoted Nashville’s musical diversity via his publishing, record label and recording-studio ventures.

To salute Drake, Elizabeth Cook performed “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight” and Wendy Moten did “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” The steel guitarist played on both of those. Charlie McCoy presented the Medallion to widow Rose Drake and son John Drake. “Everything he played on fit like a glove,” said Charlie. “He became part of the records he was on.”

“Pete loved music and his music friends more than anything,” said Rose. “We need to recognize these musicians more. The music of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s created Nashville. Thank you very much for keeping his legacy going.”

Pictured: Kyle Young inducts Eddie Bayers (L) into the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Kyle said that inductee Eddie Bayers provided “very good grooves and very bad jokes,” describing him as, “a metronome with a heart.” Vince Gill’s “When I Call Your Name” and Trisha Yearwood’s “Walkaway Joe” were just two of the hundreds of hits Eddie has played on. “A great drummer is felt, not heard,” said Vince. “My hope for you, Eddie, is that you get a really good looking plaque.” That joking reference was to the notoriously ugly bronze facial reliefs on the Hall’s official plaques.

“People make a family, and we are certainly a family,” said Eddie. “I love all of you. God bless you all.” He also saluted his wife Lane Brody as “my immortal beloved.”

“They sang their hearts out loud,” said Kyle of The Judds. “They sang in harmony even when they didn’t live in harmony.” Shouted Wy from her seat, “Amen.” “We can’t know all of their struggles, but we know all of their songs,” Kyle concluded. Carly Pearce sang “Grandpa (Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days)” and Gillian Welch & Dave Rawlings sang “Young Love.”

Ricky Skaggs inducted The Judds. “We’re not gonna be sad today,” he said of Naomi Judd (1946-2022). “We’re going to have joy. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Y’all touched so many people with those songs. All of country music, all of the people around the world who loved The Judds are praying for you.”

Pictured (L-R) Ashley Judd accepts induction on behalf of Naomi Judd with Ricky Skaggs, inductee Wynonna Judd and Kyle Young. Photo: Terry Wyatt/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

“My Mom loved you so much,” said Ashley Judd. “I’m so sorry she couldn’t hang on until today. It was your affection for her that kept her going.” She turned to sister Wynonna and continued, “I love you, and I’m so proud of you. Mama was proud of you, and she always was.” She received her mother’s Medallion. Ricky placed Wy’s around her neck.

“I’m going to make this fast, because my heart is broken,” said Wy. “And I feel so blessed. It’s very strange dynamic to be this broken in this place…Though my heart is broken, I will continue to sing.” She concluded by reciting “The 23rd Psalm.” Then Tommy Sims sang a moving version if “Love Can Build a Bridge.”

“It’s been a long time comin,’” said Kyle of the induction of Ray Charles (1930-2004). “Ray took country music to places it had never been.” The War and Treaty brought down the house with a thrilling rendition of “You Don’t Know Me.” Garth Brooks did “Seven Spanish Angels,” which is his go-to song at concert sound checks. Bettye LaVette sang a soulful “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” Ronnie Milsap did the Medallion honors.

Pictured (L-R): Ronnie Milsap, Valerie Ervin and Kyle Young speak onstage for the class of 2021 medallion ceremony at Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum

“Ray Charles was a really cool guy,” said Ronnie. “We were really great friends. We wrote Braille letters to each other. Ray would be so happy today.” Accepting was Valerie Ervin, the president of the Ray Charles Foundation. “Ray Charles always stood his ground for what he loved, and he loved country music,” she said. “Country music was the core of Ray Charles’s life. This IS a Moment.”

“It’s been like church tonight,” observed Marty Stuart of the ceremony. He led the crowd in singing “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” He (and everyone else) was accompanied by the awesome Medallion All Star Band — Biff Watson, Jan Gunderman, Brent Mason, Jeff White, Tommy White, Rachel Loy, Jerry Pentecost, Deanie Richardson, Tanis Hancheroff, and Wendy Moten.

Taking it all in were Larry Gatlin, Paul Kennerley, T.G. Sheppard & Kelly Lang, Brent Maher, Joe Galante, Dan Rogers, John Carter Cash, Scott Hendricks, Tim Wipperman, Chuck Mead, Erika Wollam & Roger Nichols, Bill Purcell, Ellen Lehman, Steve Buchanan, Bonnie Garner, Martha Moore, Susan Stewart, Fletcher Foster, Bruce Bouton, Hunter Kelly, Bob & Leslie DiPiero, Tom Roland, Jeannie Seely, Tony Brown, Ken Paulson, Denise Stiff, The McCrary Sisters, Walter Campbell, Tracy Gershon, Tess Frizzell, Bobby Tomberlin, Jim Horn, Gary Burr & Georgia Middleman, Rique, Lon Helton, Cactus Moser, Don Potter, David Ewing, David Ross, Dave Pomeroy and Sharon Vaughn, for starters.

Brain Mansfield was introducing Marcus K. Dowling to everyone in the press section. Jim Ed Norman was on a break from touring with The Eagles. Steve Fishell’s news is that his book about Buddy Emmons is being published by the University of Illinois in its prestigious Music in American Life series. Doug Green’s book about Carson Robison has been accepted by Vanderbilt University Press, and the distinguished Bill Malone is set to write the biography of Doug’s group Riders in the Sky.

The whole shebang relocated to the sixth floor event space for a cocktail supper. On the menu were steak, salmon, potato salad, pizza and desserts. And lots of fellowship.