the judds final tour cmt

How Wynonna Judd’s ‘Judds Final Tour’ Resulted in a Celebratory, All-Star Concert Special… and a Doc That Deals With Grief

Filmmakers behind Paramount+'s 'Between Hell and Hallelujah' and CMT's 'Love Is Alive — The Final Concert' tell how two specials came out of a tour that had Wynonna joined by Brandi Carlile, Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde, Little Big Town and Martina McBride

By Chris Willman

Chris Willman

Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic

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No one will be punished for picking their own viewing order, but CMT’s Margaret Comeaux, one of the executive producers of the concert film, suggests starting with the doc and saving the live show for dessert. “I think that’s probably the preferred order,” Comeaux says, “because I think the story that the doc is telling of the whole year leads us to the final story we’re telling in the concert special, with the culmination in Murfreesboro.” That’s the Tennessee city where Judd and all the guest stars who appeared along last fall’s tour routing converged for a show that was meant to more or less recreate the Judds’ famous original farewell concert back in 1991, shot on the same stage.

Both projects will prove enticing not just to fans of the Judds but to followers of the performers who are seen joining Wynonna as co-frontwomen: Brandi Carlile , Kelsea Ballerini, Martina McBride, Ashley McBryde, Faith Hill and Little Big Town. (Make that co-frontwomen and -frontmen in the case of the latter co-ed vocal quartet.)

Says Jason Owen , the head of Nashville media powerhouse Sandbox Entertainment and an exec producer on both projects: “I’m being honest when I say I could not have done this tour without her. I mean, she was a confidante. She and I talked through a lot as we were talking through songs and making sure everyone was healthy and happy. And her energy is just infectious. From the very beginning, she felt very strongly that Wynonna should do the tour, and she was very vocal about that with all of us. And we all started building this idea of the tour with a guest (each night) off of Brandi, and that’s how it started. But throughout the process, she was there. It was very important for me that she be the first guest — and it was very important to me — because I knew that she cared so much about the music and cared so much about Wynonna. Not that all of them did not, because they did, but she was like a beacon, and wanted to make sure everything was really right and perfect for Wy, mostly musically.”

Even before Naomi died and plans changed in the biggest possible way, there had always been a plan to film a documentary about what had been booked as the Judds’ second farewell tour. Owens’ Sandbox had hooked up with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine — specifically Sara Rea, who runs the unscripted division — at about the time the Judds appeared on the 2022 CMT Music Awards to sing “Love Will Build a Bridge” and promote the coming reunion tour.

After Naomi died, virtually everything that had been planned went on — including the filming projects — albeit always with a check-in to Wynonna and her team to make sure they were on board, and with obvious constant acknowledgements of the void at the center of things, or at a half-center. Unforgettably, Wynonna showed up to accept the duo’s Country Music Hall of Fame medallion at a ceremony just two days after the death. At a musical memorial televised by CMT from the Ryman Auditorium, Wynonna announced the tour would go on, with Carlile — a key duet partner at the eulogistic event — seen in the third row literally leaning forward in her seat with enthusiasm for the idea.

Probably the most talked-about scene comes mid-tour, when deepening anxiety about staging issues leads Wynonna to get on an emergency Zoom call with her therapist to deal with the real underlying issues. She says that every time she drives by her mother’s house, which is often, she flashes back to the day she was called over, and the traumatic imagery of being in the room with her dying mom. Her biggest regret, she says feistily, is that she didn’t punch the cop who held her back from kissing her mother before she passed, and that it was only after Naomi was declared dead that she was able to kiss her on the forehead.

“That was a hard day of filming,” says Patty Ivins Specht, the director of the “Between Hell and Hallelujah” doc. “It was a fascinating day, because that (therapy session) was not scheduled. She woke up that day and sincerely needed to have a session with David Kessler for her grief therapy because she was just feeling it so deeply. First of all, the entire crew is crying on some level, because it’s very emotional to listen to somebody relive their worst day of their life. And then it was another moment where she went into that very personal trauma of replaying the driving over (to the house), every time. She’s like, ‘I just can’t stop that loop in my brain.’ Sometimes when you’re making a movie like this, it is such a trust fall, and Wy just trusted that we were gonna capture the process and was free with how she felt, and I think everyone in the room filming it feels that responsibility when someone trusts you with their vulnerability.

“I look at that scene and she’s a woman who’s legitimately in a painful hour in time and she’s asking for help. And she’s kind of trying to ignore that these cameras are here. But watching somebody model processing their grief is also really empowering, because in our society, we don’t talk about death. You do the funeral, you move along, and then you still live with that grief for years. And so I think in a powerful way, her modeling how she’s processing this grief is really one of the gifts of this film.”

The anxiety for Judd comes about in a somewhat symbolic way, at first, starting with the very practical matter of the artist having difficulty with the opening gambit of the tour. She would be snuck out each night in a rolling equipment cabinet to start each concert on a “B stage,” apart from the band or any guests back on the main stage — and, in some kind of deeply Freudian way, separated from the union with her mother that the main stage represents. It doesn’t help that Judd is described by others as being more claustrophobic than anyone else they know even on an elevator.

As for capturing Wynonna’s first visit to her mother’s home after the tragedy, says Ivins Specht, “It illustrates this thing that happens with Wynonna, where I think she has this kind of unspoken contract with her fans that she just gives it up. Because even when she said yes to us, that we could go with her that day, I mean, we weren’t so sure she’d say yes, but no, she was all for it. … The sensitive thing is, leading with your intuition a little bit in those times, but really our job is to always ask. That actually is our job, to ask — in humility and kindness — to ask the uncomfortable questions all the time. There’s so much give and take, and she gives so much. There’s a moment (in the film) where she goes, ‘OK, I think I did it.’ Like, ‘That’s all I can do today.’ But she generally tries to say yes, and then she’ll find a boundary at some point.”

One reason Owen bonded so well with Carlile is that he, too, was a Judds megafan since childhood. He will allow that a VHS tape of the 1991 Judds farewell special was one of his most prized, if not worn-out, possessions. (Naomi Judd said that she was retiring at the time, after their run of ’80s smashes, because of her hepatitis-C diagnosis, although she participated in short or one-off reunions over the following three decades.) That farewell show had been filmed at Middle Tennessee State University, and it was Owen’s idea to recreate the show back at that original site — though it was not the original plan.

“I remember Margaret and I having a phone conversation as we were trying to plan this concert special,” Owen recalls, “and the original plan was that we were going to do it in Lexington, Kentucky,” where the last show was to take place on the original fall 2022 tour routing. “Kentucky made sense because they were obviously from Kentucky, and that was where we were going to wrap the tour. We had blocked off seating for it, we had done camera holds, we did everything. Long story short, Wynonna wanted to continue the tour and continue to do another run of dates,” which would extend the actual finale to months down the line. “And then, with Margaret and I brainstorming on the phone, I said, ‘What if we do it there, at MTSU?’ Within eight hours, we had that.. … At the college, there was tons of faculty and people that worked there for a long period of time that were all there when they shot that special, believe it or not. And when we pitched them on this idea, they went through every hoop imaginable to make sure it happened.

It wasn’t just Carlile among the guests who was able to have an emotional impact on Judd. Comeaux remembers a spontaneous moment in rehearsal, captured in the doc, when Faith Hill began serenading Judd on stage with an a cappella version of “You Are Not Alone,” with the band eventually joining in. The documentary crew was on the opposite side of the venue, filming an interview with Tim McGraw, but they had made contingency plans to leave one camera near the star at all times, and a producer was able to pick it up and capture the moment. “Wy, at the beginning of every show, is very much in a zone of ‘I want to service all the fans who are coming,’ and as anyone is, you’re in game mode — you’ve gotta see the vision of the end. And so when Faith begins this beautiful rendition, I mean, everybody on stage had a lump in their throat, and Wynonna pulls out a funny and says, ‘Don’t you ever do that again.’ But it’s a beautiful moment in the movie.”

But it’s hard to overstate Carlile’s impact, even on the tour dates that came after her initial appearance at the first ones. Says Ivins Specht, “At the kickoff concert, it was one day of load-in, a little bit of rehearsal that late afternoon into the evening, and then the next day was another rehearsal, and then the first show was that Friday night. So it’s Thursday, 4 or 5 o’clock, and it’s a big freaking day — stressful, everything’s getting built, and things aren’t coming together as quickly as possible, as with every production you ever work on.” Owen concurs, “That first weekend of shows was very stressful. Things go wrong. We have to change things; I’m yelling at some lighting guy. It’s tough.”

And then, says the director, “I can tell you, the moment Team Brandi rolled in, Wy was like, ‘OK, I’m gonna be good.’ Like, ‘I have Brandi on stage. She’s as invested in this being a success for me, as an individual woman, as she is for all the fans who love the Judds so much.’ And I think the planning of Brandi being first is kind of an unspoken tribute to why this is such a success. It transcended being about all the anxiety around what Wynonna was about to do, and it went back to the place of celebration and joy, and Brandi helped Wy access that peace in herself. That’s what I witnessed.” Adds Owen, “She helped me too, honestly, because I was very emotional through it, because I cared so much and it was such a rollercoaster of a year. Again, I really would say wholeheartedly, I could not have done this without her.”

“I have a petition to get her to the Greek” in Los Angeles, says Comeaux. “I want to see Wynonna at the Greek.”

Maybe that will happen eventually, but not under this banner. “There’s nothing (further) scheduled for that,” Owen says. “I think that that was the end of the Judds tour. Unfortunately for all of us.”

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CMT and Sandbox Live’s “NAOMI JUDD: A RIVER OF TIME CELEBRATION” delivers tears, heartfelt tributes, and emotional performances to honor the life and legacy of country music icon Naomi Judd

Hosted by Robin Roberts, daughters Wynonna & Ashley Judd come together with Naomi’s closest friends, family and fans for healing and remembrance at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium

Wynonna announces The Judds Final Tour to continue on in her mother’s legacy

NASHVILLE, TN - (May 15, 2022) – Tonight, CMT and Sandbox Live , in partnership with The Judd family, together united the biggest names in entertainment alongside friends, family and the country music community for “NAOMI JUDD: A RIVER OF TIME CELEBRATION.” The star-packed tribute to the extraordinary life and legacy of country music icon Naomi Judd aired LIVE commercial-free from Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, exclusively on CMT. 

Hosted by Co-Anchor of ABC’s “Good Morning America” and close family friend, Robin Roberts , Wynonna and Ashley Judd together celebrated their mother’s legacy, to a standing ovation as Wynonna delivered a special announcement that The Judds Final Tour will continue on later this year, honoring Naomi’s legacy.

The public celebration featured all-star tribute performances that each received standing ovations from the industry, artist and fan-filled crowd, including The Judds biggest hits from Ashley McBryde, Brad Paisley, Brandi Carlile, Carly Pearce, Emmylou Harris & Allison Russell, Gaither Vocal Band, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town and several show-stopping performances from Wynonna herself. The special also featured messages from Naomi’s closest friends and fans, including Bette Midler , Bono, Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman , Reese Witherspoon and Salma Hayek. Wynonna & Ashley Judd, Naomi’s husband Larry Strickland , and Martina McBride who all delivered touching remarks in Naomi’s honor. Carly Pearce and Cody Alan served as hosts for CMT , setting the stage for an incredible and emotional evening. 

Top highlights from tonight’s “ NAOMI JUDD: A RIVER OF TIME CELEBRATION ” include:  

• Host Robin Roberts kicked off the emotional evening, welcoming Ashley Judd to the stage to deliver a heartfelt recollection of Naomi's incredibly full and bold life, before introducing sister Wynonna for a heartfelt performance of “River of Time. ”
• Ashley McBryde fought back tears as she sang the legendary duo’s No. 1 hit “Love Is Alive.” 
• Little Big Town performed the duo’s hit song “Grandpa,” also nodding to the duo’s influence on the group, sharing: “Your music has been the fabric of our lives and Naomi, it will live with us forever.”
• Fellow Kentuckian Carly Pearce treated the packed crowd to a soulful rendition of “Why Not Me,” pulling double duty as CMT co-host for the evening alongside Cody Alan .
• Martina McBride delivered a powerful reading of friend Maya Angelou’s “When Great Trees Fall , ” while friend Bono recited a moving excerpt of The Judds’ “ Guardian Angels .”
• Emmylou Harris & Allison Russell joined forces to deliver a beautiful performance of “ The Sweetest Gift, ” bringing the crowd to tears. 
• At Naomi’s special request,the Gaither Vocal Band brought show-stopping harmonies to The Mother Church with “ How Beautiful Heaven Must Be, ” bringing the crowd to tears. 
• Brad Paisley opened his performance of “ Young Love ” by fondly reminiscing about his first time opening for The Judds as a teenager, saying: “It was a big deal to open for them then, but a bigger deal to do this for them now.”
• Bette Midler shared an emotional memory of performing “The Rose” with The Judds on stage in Nashville ahead of Brandi Carlile and Wynonna ’s unforgettable performance of the smash hit. 
• Husband Larry Strickland appeared on stage alongside Wynonna and Ashley to share fond memories of Naomi and her special connection to her fans, even sharing some heartfelt messages they have received in the past few weeks that provided them comfort.
• Throughout the evening,Naomi’s closest friends and fans delivered heartfelt speeches and shared memories, including Reese Witherspoon , who celebrated Naomi’s legacy as a single mother and a woman breaking barriers; Oprah Winfrey reflected on Naomi’s undeniable connection with her fans and the strong roots of the country music community,
• Wynonna brought the Ryman to its feet for the final standing ovation of the night, closing the show with a larger-than-life, all-sing performance of “Love Can Build A Bridge , ” after treating fans to a surprise announcement The Judds Final Tour would continue later this year in her mother’s honor. 

Full performance list below:

• Wynonna Judd - "River of Time"  
• Wynonna Judd & Brandi Carlile - "The Rose"  
• Wynonna Judd - "Love Can Build A Bridge"  
• Ashley McBryde - "Love is Alive"  
• Brad Paisley - "Young Love"  
• Carly Pearce - "Why Not Me"  
• Emmylou Harris & Allison Russell - "The Sweetest Gift"  
• G aither Vocal Band - "How Beautiful Heaven Must Be"  
• Jamey Johnson - “John Deere Tractor”
• Little Big Town - "Grandpa"  

“ NAOMI JUDD: A RIVER OF TIME CELEBRATION ” is a co-production from CMT and Sandbox Live; Margaret Comeaux (CMT), Leslie Fram (CMT), Jason Owen (Sandbox) and Patrizia DiMaria (Ladypants Productions) are Executive Producers. For more information, visit CMT.com , follow @CMT on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter , YouTube and TikTok .

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PRESS CONTACTS: Ali Marszalkowski, [email protected] Marcel Pariseau, [email protected]   Scott Adkins (For Legacy of Naomi Judd), [email protected]  

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The Judds Are Reuniting for The Final Tour: ‘This Tour Is a Celebration’ for Fans

The shows will launch Sept. 30 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

By Jessica Nicholson

Jessica Nicholson

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The Judds ‘ Naomi and Wynonna Judd are set to hit the road for their first tour in more than a decade, the duo announced Monday (April 11). Their 10-show trek, The Final Tour, launches Friday, Sept. 30, in Grand Rapids, Mich., at the Van Andel Arena.

Produced by Sandbox Live and Live Nation, the tour will include stops in Green Bay, Wis.; Duluth, Ga.; Biloxi, Miss.; and more, before wrapping Oct. 28 at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena. Martina McBride will join the tour as a special guest on select dates.

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“The fans have always been my family of choice. I love them dearly, so I’m chompin’ at the bit to belt out our hits and reconnect with them once again. The cherry on top is singing with my beloved, wild and extremely talented daughter … the best singer of any genre, Wynonna!” Naomi said in a statement. “She asked me if I was still going to twist, twirl and crack jokes. I answered, ‘Heck yeah! I’m too old to grow up now!’”   “What I’m looking forward to most is celebrating Judd music with the fans. Mom and I have had quite the journey over the last 38 years, and the fans have been with us through it all,” Wynonna added. “This tour is a celebration for them!”    “The Judds were my very first concert and this is a full circle moment for us,” Sandbox Entertainment president/CEO Jason Owen said via a statement. “Launching Sandbox Live with The Judds The Final Tour makes perfect sense. We are so proud to produce their epic return to live concerts with our partners at Live Nation and Leslie Cohea and the incredible team at Sandbox.”

Tickets for the tour will go on sale to the general public beginning April 15.

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Monday’s (April 11) CMT Music Awards also features The Judds performing their signature hit “Love Can Build a Bridge,” with Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum as their background. The pre-taped performance took place on March 23. In addition to the tour and CMT Music Awards performance, the duo will be officially enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in May.   See a full list of The Judds’ The Final Tour dates below:

• Sept. 30: Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
• Oct. 1: Huntington Center, Toldeo, OH
• Oct. 7: Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD
• Oct. 8: Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
• Oct. 14: Gas South Arena, Duluth, GA
• Oct. 15: Propst Arena at The Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL
• Oct. 21: Choctaw Grand Theater, Durant, OK
• Oct. 22: Dickies Arena, Ft. Worth, TX
• Oct. 27: Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, MS
• Oct. 28: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

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The Judds Announce Their Final Tour

This fall, legendary mother and daughter duo the Judds will tour together for the first time in 10 years. The Final Tour is a 10-date trek across America.

Naomi and Wynonna Judd will begin their tour on Sept. 30 in Grand Rapids and wrap a month later in Nashville, playing arenas along the way. Martina McBride will open for the soon-to-be Country Music Hall of Fame act. Tickets go on sale on April 15 at the Judds website.

This is the third time the Judds have attempted to put a period on their career. In 1991, they played what was billed as their final show after Naomi Judd  (now 76 years old) was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. Wynonna Judd, 57, would go on to enjoy 10 years of success as a solo artist while her mother battled the disease and raised awareness. Her health allowed her to return to the stage on New Year's Eve in 1999, after which they'd reunite for the Power to Change Tour.

Ten years later, the Last Encore Tour was billed as the last tour. While it is the last time they hit the road together, they would meet up in Las Vegas in 2015 for a nine-show Girls Night Out residency at the Venetian.

Fans won't have to wait until September to to see them play live, however — on Monday night (April 11), the Judds will sing "Love Can Build a Bridge" during the CMT Music Awards on CBS.

The pair have always been known for their stunning harmonies, but also their humor on stage. Musically, they have 14 No. 1 hits of 25 singles released to radio across two decades.

The Judds' 2022 The Final Tour Dates:

Sept. 30 — Grand Rapids, Mich. @ Van Andel Arena Oct. 1 — Toledo, Ohio @ Huntington Center Oct. 7 — Sioux Falls, S.D. @ Denny Sanford Premiere Center Oct. 8 — Green Bay, Wisc. @ Resch Center Oct. 14 — Duluth, Ga. @ Gas South Arena Oct. 15 — Huntsville, Ala. @ Propst Arena @ the Von Braun Center Oct. 21 — Durant, Okla. @ Choctaw Grand Theater Oct. 22 — Fort Worth, Texas @ Dickies Arena Oct. 27 — Biloxi, Miss. @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum Oct. 28 — Nashville, Tenn. @ Bridgestone Arena

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• Tour announcements

The Judds Announce The ‘Final’ Tour, First Tour Together in Over a Decade

by Tina Benitez-Eves April 12, 2022, 7:43 am

The mother and daughter country duo of Naomi and Wynonna Judd are set to hit the road for the first time in more than a decade for The Final Tour. The 10-show run kicks off Sept. 30, in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the Van Andel Arena and will conclude on Oct. 28 at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.

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“What I’m looking forward to most is celebrating Judd music with the fans,” said Wynonna in a statement. “Mom and I have had quite the journey over the last 38 years, and the fans have been with us through it all. This tour is a celebration for them.” 

Produced by Sandbox Live and Live Nation, the tour will also include stops in Green Bay, WI, Huntsville, AL, Ft. Worth, TX, Duluth, GA; Biloxi, MS, and more with Martina McBride joining the tour as a special guest on select dates.

The Judds, who were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2021, initially played their final concert together on Dec. 4, 1991, before reuniting for the Power to Change tour in 2000 and again in 2010 for The Last Encore Tour.

“The fans have always been my family of choice,” said Naomi Judd. “I love them dearly, so I’m chompin’ at the bit to belt out our hits and reconnect with them once again. The cherry on top is singing with my beloved, wild, and extremely talented daughter … the best singer of any genre, Wynonna.”

Naomi added, “She asked me if I was still going to twist, twirl and crack jokes. I answered, ‘Heck yeah! I’m too old to grow up now.’”

The Judds The Final Tour Dates:

• Sept. 30: Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, MI
• Oct. 1: Huntington Center, Toledo, OH
• Oct. 7: Denny Sanford Premier Center, Sioux Falls, SD
• Oct. 8: Resch Center, Green Bay, WI
• Oct. 14: Gas South Arena, Duluth, GA
• Oct. 15: Propst Arena at The Von Braun Center, Huntsville, AL
• Oct. 21: Choctaw Grand Theater, Durant, OK
• Oct. 22: Dickies Arena, Ft. Worth, TX
• Oct. 27: Mississippi Coast Coliseum, Biloxi, MS
• Oct. 28: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Photo: Courtesy of CMT

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The Judds Revisit “Love Can Build a Bridge” During the 2022 CMT Awards

© 2024 American Songwriter

Nashville Then: 20 years ago in April 2004

Naomi Judd's artifacts now available in new series of virtual exhibitions

T wo years after Naomi Judd's passing, one day before her scheduled April 2022 induction, alongside her daughter, Wynonna, into the Country Music Hall of Fame, her estate has partnered with Definitive Authentic and Mercy Community Healthcare to release "Artist," the first in a series of five virtual exhibits of rare and never-before-seen artifacts from her life.

The Naomi Judd 'Artist' collection can be viewed at http://www.naomijuddlegacy.com .

Judd's daughter Wynonna says her mother's work as the "family historian" was compiled in over a hundred scrapbooks and photo albums organized by decade, year, and month. Wynonna's sister Ashley adds that the archive is a "sweet and meaningful opportunity" to connect with her mother via "pieces that were endowed with story" by "(learning) more about her internal life."

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Between 1984 and 1989, The Judds' Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and Grammy-winning success for hits including "Young Love," "Why Not Me," "Turn It Loose," "Mama He's Crazy," "Why Not Me" and "Love Can Build a Bridge" yielded a career for Naomi that includes what a press statement describes as being a "fashion icon, New York Times best-selling author and an American pop culture icon" who eventually "broke down barriers in the mental health field and the stigma around mental illness."

The virtual exhibition is scheduled to showcase behind-the-scenes photos, awards, a personal stage map with handwritten notes, a shooting script for the "Grandpa" music video and more.

A portion of the exhibition's proceeds will be donated to The Naomi Judd Mental Health Clinic: A Bridge to Hope at Franklin, Tennessee's Mercy Community Healthcare.

Definitive Authentic is the consumer-facing brand of Inveniem, a leader in confidential archival services. The company builds narrative-driven digital and physical experiences around its clients' physical and digital artifacts to enable those talents and their estates to create live experience revenue.

Naomi Judd joins Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Metallica as classic artists active via virtual museums enabled with limited edition collectibles, immersive touring museum experiences and one-of-a-kind artifact auctions.

A press statement adds, "The Naomi Judd 'Artist' artifact collection frames the icon as a beloved musician and a figure whose groundbreaking vision went well beyond the recording studio."

Alongside the "Artist" exhibition launch, 2024 will see the first-ever vinyl release in the US of The Judds' final studio album, 1990's "Love Can Build A Bridge." That album includes lyric sheets and never-before-seen photos from Naomi's scrapbooks.

Mercy Community Healthcare exists to reflect the love and compassion of Jesus Christ by providing excellent healthcare to ALL and support to their families. Mercy is accepting patients. Please call 615.790.0567 to schedule an appointment and establish a primary care provider.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Naomi Judd's artifacts now available in new series of virtual exhibitions

CMT Premiere: Wyatt Flores Shares His Favorite Video "Milwaukee"

Oklahoma native Wyatt Flores a new favorite for many country music fans and his video for his song "Milwaukee" underlines why. Flores offers thoughtful lyrics and a video that rings authentic to the artist and the song. 

"This song was one of the few for me that was written from a feeling instead of an experience," Flores said. "Instead of bringing the song to life, it gave it one."

Flores wrote the song with Graham Barham, Cole Miracle and Gavin Lucas. Ryan Hadlock produced the track, and Edgar Evan produced and directed the music video.

The singer doesn't play the male lead in the video but sings in the bar band that provides the clip's setting.

"It's a weird feeling being the backing band to your own music video," he said. "It was fun seeing my touring band adapt so well to the shoot."

Flores said it is his "favorite music video to date."

"Seeing the final video to a song I've loved for a long time feels like a huge accomplishment," he said. "I hope fans can see themselves and a potential failed relationship and relate to it in a new way from this video."

Flores is an Oklahoma native with Mexican-American heritage. He gained hundreds of millions of streams independently then released his Island Records debut "Life Lessons" in 2023.

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Mickey Guyton Will Hit the Road This Year for CMT On Tour

• By Tomás Mier

Mickey Guyton is over the moon after announcing that she’s going on a headlining tour. On Friday, the country star announced that she’ll hit the road for her CMT on Tour run of shows this fall.

“I’m so excited to announce that I’m hitting the road this fall with @cmt on my own headlining tour! Let me know in the comments what show you’re coming to,” she wrote on Instagram, adding, “I love you guys so much – this really is a dream come true!”

The tour will commence in Atlanta, before stopping in cities such as New York, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Des Moines, and Toronto. (She’ll notably skip the west coast.) Tickets for Guyton’s shows go on sale on Friday, May 3 at 10 a.m. local time, but fans can access tickets to a presale on April 30.

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CMT On Tour Presents Mickey Guyton 2024

Sept. 18 — Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre Sept. 20 — Charlotte, NC @ The Underground Sept. 21 — Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel Sept. 26 — Washington, DC @ Union Stage Sept. 27 — New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre Sept. 28 — Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Café and Music Hall Oct. 2 — Kansas City, MO @ Knuckleheads Oct. 3 — Oklahoma City, OK @ Beer City Music Hall Oct. 15 — St. Louis, MO @ Delmar Hall Oct. 17 — Chicago, IL @ Joe’s on Weed St. Oct. 18 — Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave Oct. 19 — Des Moines, IA @ Wooly’s Oct. 22 — Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre Oct. 23 — Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig Oct. 25 — Grand Rapids, MI @ The Stache at The Intersection Oct. 30 — Columbus, OH @ The Bluestone Nov. 1 — Buffalo, NY @ Iron Works Nov. 2 — Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground Nov. 4 — Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall Nov. 6 — Philadelphia, PA @ World Cafe Live Nov. 8 — Indianapolis, Indiana @ The Hifi Nov. 9 — Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall

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