Wynonna Judd took the stage to sing for the first time since her mom’s death on April 30th during Naomi Judd: A River Of Time Celebration. The public memorial service was held at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium and aired on CMT Sunday night (May 15).
The music-filled memorial service featured performances and appearances from stars such as the Gaither Vocal Band, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Morgan Freeman, Bette Midler, Oprah Winfrey and many more. But, the highlight of the evening was the conclusion when Wynonna took the stage to sing “Love Can Build a Bridge.”
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The song written by Naomi Judd became a huge hit for the mother-daughter duo upon its release in 1990 and was the final song the pair sang together on stage before Naomi’s untimely death. “Love Can Build a Bridge” never took the top spot on the charts, but is easily The Judds’ most recognizable hit.
When Wynonna stood on stage alone Sunday night, the standing crowd waved photos of Naomi and joined Wynonna to sing the familiar lyrics.
“Love can build a bridge
Between your heart and mine
Love can build a bridge
Don’t you think it’s time?
Don’t you think it’s time?”
During the song’s final chorus, Wynonna quieted the band so the voices of the crowd could be heard. It was a beautiful, emotional conclusion to a heartfelt celebration of Naomi Judd’s life.
Naomi Judd passed away April 30, 2022, at the age of 76 after a battle with mental illness. Her final performance with Wynonna took place just two weeks prior when the duo delivered their first televised performance in more than two decades and sang “Love Can Build a Bridge” for the CMT Music Awards.
Watch Wynonna Judd sing “Love Can Build a Bridge” on the Ryman Auditorium stage during Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration in the video below.