By: Olivia Johnson and Alison Palmeri

The country music world lost two legends within a few months of time leaving fans worldwide in mourning for two award-winning trailblazers in the world of Country Music. After battling depression and suicidal thoughts throughout her life Naomi Judd tragically took her own life. She had one of the most successful solo country music careers in history and in 1980, she and daughter Wynona, became one of the most successful country music duos of all time. Known as "The Judds" they were country music's most famous mother-daughter team, scoring twenty top ten hits and going undefeated for eight consecutive years at all three major country music awards shows. They won five Grammy Awards for best country songs, nine association awards and a vast array of other honors. Naomi also won Country Song of the Year Grammy for writing, "Love Can Build a Bridge".

Naomi Judd was beloved by her fellow performers and the American public as a talented award-winning singer and songwriter. Born in 1946 in Ashland, Kentucky, she went on to stardom but was honest about her agonizing battles with mental health. She struggled with depression and anxiety so severely that she did little in the way of physical activity, causing her muscles to atrophy. That compounded the problems she was experiencing and some believe drove her to take the final desperate self-destructive act.

On the eve of her induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame along with Wynona, Naomi Judd died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Once again, the world is reminded of the devastating loss resulting from the impact of mental health problems.

Judd had spoken openly about her struggles and tried to offer hope to those suffering from similar issues. She knew there were many silently suffering Americans dealing with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. In an article written in Taste magazine she stated, "It's staggering how many people go through this — 44 million, if you've got a pulse, then you're fighting some battle, on some level, whether it's a diagnosis of depression which impacts 16 million people...or anxiety which strikes 42 million people...or something else. And there's power in numbers: it means that there are other people. You're not alone in this battle." September was Suicide Prevention Awareness Month —a time to raise awareness of the stigmatized, and often taboo, topic and shift public perception... spread hope and share vital information to people affected by suicide... ensuring that individuals, friends and families have access to resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and seek help. For anyone who suffers from depression and/or debilitating anxiety there is help available. Seek out someone you trust and remember that there are many qualified mental health experts available to assist you. Support can also be found at 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or 911. There is ALWAYS hope.

By: Olivia Johnson and Olivia Coish

Country fans were still reeling from the sudden and unexpected loss of country star legend Naoimi Judd back on April 30th. Loretta Lynn passed away on October 4th 2022 at her home in Tennessee at the age of 85 following a stroke. Lynn, born in 1932, was raised in the town of Van Lear, Kentucky, alongside her eight siblings. Although impoverished, Lynn associates her childhood with some of her favorite memories, as recounted in her 1971 hit, “Coal Miner's Daughter.”

At the age of just 15, Loretta Webb married Oliver Lynn, and in the same year, gave birth to the first of their six children. With no formal musical experience other than performing at her local church, Lynn spent hours singing to her children and became known for her ability to compose songs in just a matter of minutes. Soon after, she and her husband moved to Washington State where Lynn played gigs at taverns, still not considering music a priority. Then, in 1960, she recorded her first debut single, “Honky Tonk Girl.” The hit launched her career, as playing country music stations across the United States followed its release.

Lynn viewed singing as an escape from her years of living in poverty and raising her children. In an interview with NPR, Lynn said, “‘Singing was easy…I thought Gee whiz, this is an easy job.”’ Lynn found herself on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, landing her a contract with Decca Records. Exposure to other great artists led her to meet her best friend, and guide, Patsy Cline. Although Cline met an untimely death in 1963, Lynn vividly remembers Cline telling her that her song, “You Ain’t Woman Enough to Take My Man,” was a hit. Lynn listened to Cline, putting it on record soon after. As predicted, the song was a success.

Lynn often used her life experiences as inspiration, making some of her music unconventional and even controversial. To document her upbringing, Lynn co-wrote a memoir with George Vecsey in 1976. She told Express-News that she, “‘...never, never thought about being a role model…I wrote from life, how things were in my life. I never could understand why others didn’t write down what they knew.”’ Lynn often credited her husband for providing her with the confidence she needed to begin her career as a performer, but interviews, as well as her 2002 memoir, “Still Woman Enough,” revealed that Oliver was abusive. Regardless, she stayed with him for over 50 years, writing, “‘he’s in there somewhere,”’ in many of her songs.

Lynn’s perseverance and talent was recognized through various Grammy and Academy of Country Music Awards, as well as through induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame. Lynn was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In the words of former President Barack Obama, Lynn, “gave voice to a generation, singing what no one wanted to talk about and saying what no one wanted to think about.”