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CMT Will Air Live Public Memorial For Naomi Judd

CMT has announced that along with The Judd family, they will air “Naomi Judd: A River of Celebration,” a live celebration from the Ryman Auditorium to honor the extraordinary life…

CMT Will Air Live Public Memorial For Naomi Judd
Stephen Cohen/Getty Images

CMT has announced that along with The Judd family, they will air "Naomi Judd: A River of Celebration," a live celebration from the Ryman Auditorium to honor the extraordinary life and legacy of country music icon Naomi Judd.

While no performers have yet been announced, CMT producers said in a press release, "We are sincerely privileged to work alongside Wynonna and Ashley to present this live celebration of life for their mother, Naomi. While we all continue to deeply mourn the loss of such a legendary artist, we are honored to commemorate her legacy alongside the country community, her friends, family, and legions of fans across the world at the perfect venue: The Mother Church of Country Music. This special will celebrate her timeless voice, unforgettable spirit, and the immense impact she left on our genre through the best form of healing we have - music."

Additional details on the public memorial service, performers, and special appearances will be announced in the coming days.

CMT will exclusively televise the public memorial service as a commercial-free special on Sunday, May 15 at 6 pm ET/5 pm CT.

Nancy Brooks has been working in the country music industry for almost 30 years. She has interviewed pretty much any country star you can think of. In the late 1990s, she started working with Dolly Parton. And yes, Nancy reports that Parton is as sweet as you would think. She loves her life in country music and has been backstage at every CMA Awards show since the late 1990s. Many of her stories are from her one-on-one interviews. She was there at the beginning of the incredible careers of many music superstars today, including Taylor Swift, Shania Twain, and Blake Shelton, and has interviewed them multiple times throughout the years.