1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: Podcast play around. I'm Buzznight, the host of the Taking 2 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: a Walk podcast music history on foot. We invite you 3 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:19,720 Speaker 1: to follow us at Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you 4 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:24,320 Speaker 1: find your podcast and kindly leave us a review and 5 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,560 Speaker 1: tell us how we're doing. That'd be much appreciated on 6 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: this Bonus Friday episode. One of the most iconic figures 7 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:36,519 Speaker 1: in the country music world, certainly of our time, she 8 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: is out with the twenty twenty three Judds The Final 9 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: Tour in celebration of the life and legacy of Naomi Judd. 10 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 1: When you have someone who's so cool and powerful that 11 00:00:48,360 --> 00:00:53,600 Speaker 1: you can only refer to her as one word, Winona. 12 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:58,639 Speaker 1: You know who I'm talking about. I'm taking a walk. Hello, Wanona, 13 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: good morning. It is so tremendous to talk to you, 14 00:01:02,400 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 1: to talk about the twenty twenty three The Judge the 15 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:09,319 Speaker 1: Final Tour and celebration of the life and legacy of 16 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: Naomi Judd. It's an honor to speak with you. First 17 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,640 Speaker 1: of all, people always want to know how you're doing. 18 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:21,639 Speaker 1: So how are you balancing the need to be staying 19 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 1: busy and active with giving yourself some time. Well, I'm 20 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 1: not doing a great job that because balance is not 21 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: a word that I grew up knowing very well. But 22 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 1: I will tell you this, whatever I do, I do 23 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 1: it with my full heart. I've got my grand baby today, 24 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:45,480 Speaker 1: so I'm changing diapers and feeding, and tomorrow I will 25 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,320 Speaker 1: start to get ready for the tour, which takes full time. 26 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:52,680 Speaker 1: That's literally like I feel like it's a wedding and 27 00:01:52,720 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: a family reunion and I'm ready to rock. And yet 28 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: I do take time for myself and I go walking 29 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: in the wilderness, or I take naps, and I do 30 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: like everybody else, I try to do everything with the 31 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: best of my ability, and it's it's it's not easy, 32 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:13,440 Speaker 1: but it's worth it. Well, you're an inspiration for your 33 00:02:14,360 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: transparency on your your feelings, and I think that connects 34 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: certainly with with your fans and your community. So the 35 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: Judge the Final Tour has this amazing array of folks 36 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:32,760 Speaker 1: that are part of it. By the way, folks can 37 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: go to the Judge dot com to check out all 38 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 1: the dates. The dates stretch all over the place, from Hershey, Pennsylvania, 39 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:49,200 Speaker 1: to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to Woostermass, Tulsa, Kansas City, Saint Louis. 40 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: I feel like we're riding the train together one on it. 41 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:57,760 Speaker 1: We are we are so let's talk about this. I 42 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:02,959 Speaker 1: would say, incredible group that will accompany you. You want 43 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 1: to start with Ashley McBride, the next generation of greatness? Yes, 44 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: actually he is a fireplug. She is Like, I'm gonna 45 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 1: tell you something. You got to watch out for that 46 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,880 Speaker 1: girl because she will absolutely come on stage and slay 47 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: And I'm left standing there looking at her like, how 48 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 1: in the world did you take over like that? He 49 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: is a force to be reckoned for, Sugar. You've got Ashley, 50 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,400 Speaker 1: You've certainly got Martina McBride, another force of nature. They 51 00:03:35,440 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: are all forces of nature here, Brandy Carlisle, Kelsey Ballerina, 52 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: the folks from Little Big Town. This person we might 53 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: have heard of called Kenya Tucker. All forces of nature 54 00:03:48,040 --> 00:03:53,520 Speaker 1: behind a force of nature in you. Wow, that's interestingly put. 55 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 1: You know, we come from different places sometimes that we're 56 00:03:57,400 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: very similar. One of the things I love about tour 57 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:05,600 Speaker 1: is the diversity. Every night is different, Each artist brings 58 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: something unique. And I have been very, very overwhelmed by 59 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: the people coming to help me. You know. They called 60 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,360 Speaker 1: me and they said, what can we do to support Winona? 61 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:23,039 Speaker 1: And it's not just a show. My dear. This is 62 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: about fellowship and communication to the fans, and it runs deep. 63 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 1: It runs really deep. Kenya and I have known each 64 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: other since I was a teenager, and so this is 65 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 1: a woman I've known my whole adult life pretty much. 66 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:40,479 Speaker 1: What makes Nashville this community like this that is so 67 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 1: loving and giving and you know, just so welcoming to 68 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 1: insiders and outsiders. You know, it's interesting you ask that question. 69 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,919 Speaker 1: I think it's because it's such a small community. You know, 70 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: music row is not a big place, And I think 71 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,160 Speaker 1: it's one of those deals where if you see someone 72 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 1: and you upset them or do something to them, you're 73 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: going to see them again. This is not like the 74 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: pop world where you can see somebody one day and 75 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: then not see them again for a long time. Nashville 76 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 1: is very, very transparent. And when we show up to 77 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 1: the Rhyman, for instance, and you're not on time, people notice. 78 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: And so I was taught in the eighties. When I 79 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 1: started in nineteen eighty four, you know, you're not late 80 00:05:29,080 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: to work with Tammy Wynette or Johnny Cash or Merle Haggard. 81 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: You are to be respectful and not interrupt. And I 82 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,440 Speaker 1: was taught my mother was very strict with me, and 83 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:41,400 Speaker 1: she taught me. She said, you're going to see the 84 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: same people on the way up as you see them 85 00:05:43,760 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 1: on the way down. You know, the spirit of your 86 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 1: mom appears to be with you at your shows. Can 87 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:56,479 Speaker 1: you talk about that feeling when you're on stage? And 88 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,080 Speaker 1: I sent, you're sort of you're sort of looking up 89 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: and communicating with your mom. At that time, I am. 90 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 1: We had a very complicated relationship, and one of the 91 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 1: things that worked beautifully without even having to try, almost 92 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: was singing together. When we got on stage, something beautiful happened, 93 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: and regardless of what took place during the daytime. She 94 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,279 Speaker 1: was very strict, and like I said, she was quite 95 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: the perfectionist, and she raised me to do things as 96 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:31,800 Speaker 1: perfectly as possible. You know, back in the day, we 97 00:06:31,839 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 1: didn't have the opportunity to use technology to take vocals 98 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: and move them around and cut and paste like we 99 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:42,599 Speaker 1: can today, and we had to work hard to get 100 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:46,000 Speaker 1: the vocals right, and there was a lot of back 101 00:06:46,080 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: and forth between the two of us because we disagreed 102 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 1: on just about everything. But yet when we hit that stage, 103 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: something remarkable happened, and the harmonies were literal and figuratively 104 00:06:57,440 --> 00:07:00,880 Speaker 1: the most important thing that bonded us together. So when 105 00:07:00,880 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 1: I'm on stage every night, there's a moment during Love 106 00:07:04,720 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 1: Can Build a Bridge where I turn around and she's 107 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: standing right there and I feel her. I feel her 108 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: with every note. And I think people can tell that 109 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,440 Speaker 1: because I talk about it a lot. So in light 110 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: of the way the last few years of this COVID 111 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:28,680 Speaker 1: thing have interrupted our lives and certainly musicians' lives, can 112 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 1: you describe the joy that it brings to someone like 113 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:36,720 Speaker 1: you to be out there on stage connecting with your fans. 114 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: It's one of the holiest moments that I make it emotional, 115 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: you know, no matter what's going on in my life, 116 00:07:45,040 --> 00:07:49,520 Speaker 1: I'm able to step out into the light literally and 117 00:07:49,720 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: I stand there barefoot, and I do that because it 118 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: grounds me and it allows me to play the guitar better. 119 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: And when I'm standing there and I look out fourteen 120 00:08:00,560 --> 00:08:04,200 Speaker 1: thousand people and they're singing back to me as loud 121 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 1: as I sing, Love Can Build a Bridge, it overwhelms 122 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: me to the point where I've had to sit down 123 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:12,480 Speaker 1: on stage because it knocks me out. It's just it's 124 00:08:12,480 --> 00:08:16,640 Speaker 1: one of the most beautiful and intensely spiritual moments of 125 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:20,240 Speaker 1: my life, and it's happening right now more so than 126 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,320 Speaker 1: ever before because of the death of my mother. There 127 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: is a sense of memorial but there's also a sense 128 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: of life after death, and it's one of the most 129 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:33,920 Speaker 1: powerful forces in the universe. Love is something that just 130 00:08:34,440 --> 00:08:37,720 Speaker 1: it flows in that auditorium and it just makes me 131 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 1: absolutely think there really is a God because it suspends 132 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: me somewhere between here and heaven, and it's remarkable. It's 133 00:08:45,360 --> 00:08:48,400 Speaker 1: one of the most beautiful moments of my day. You 134 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: are an inspiration. We are all on your side. The 135 00:08:52,120 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three The Judge is the final tour in 136 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:59,600 Speaker 1: celebration with the life and legacy of Naomi Judd. Thank 137 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: you or being on Taking a Walk. You are so welcome, 138 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: my dear, and I appreciate you letting me tell my story. 139 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 1: Taking a Walk with Buzznight is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, 140 00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts.