‘Naomi Judd CMT Special’: Ashley Begins Ceremony With Eulogy, Wynonna Performs ‘River of Time’

etcanada.com:

Naomi Judd’s star-studded tribute started with words from her daughter, Ashley Judd. On Sunday, the 54-year-old actress took the stage at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee and memorialized her mother. “Welcome to the mother church of country music, this is where mom wanted her public celebration to take place and thank you for being in community and in fellowship with us,” Ashley told the packed house. “Because we can pretend to care, but we cannot pretend to show up.

Thank you for showing up for our mom.” “And at this time when I am so forlorn, I say to my creator, I do not know who you are, and yet I do know who you are because you are the one who saved me.

And in the dark night of the soul, I say to myself, I do not know who I am because I am the one you saved.” Ashley continued, “Our circumstances do not have the power to name our identity, because as my mother taught me, we are spiritual beings having a human experience.

And God comes to us disguised as our life.” Ashley then went on to eulogize her mother, born, Diana Ellen Judd, who went on to “take her identity into her own hands” and changed her name to Naomi Judd.