The Judds Are Reuniting for a ‘Last Encore’

Wynonna and Naomi Judd kicked off this year's CMA Music Festival Thursday morning, performing for more than 10,000 fans in downtown Nashville, and in true Judd fashion, the pair announced at a press conference following the performance that they will once again reunite for their final tour, The Last Encore.

The 18-city final reunion tour is scheduled to kick off November 26 -- the day after Thanksgiving, in Green Bay, Wis., then hitting such cities as Louisville, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, before wrapping up in Phoenix, Ariz. on December 19.

"I'm looking for things that keep us doing what we do," Wynonna told the crowd of enthusiastic reporters at the Nashville Convention Center. "Do we love it so much that we're willing to do 18 shows together? Our therapist says it's okay that we go back out in public without supervised visits. [laughs] We 're in a really good place. I'm probably the healthiest I've been in a long time. Mom has obviously healed, we're the American dream, and it's just time to celebrate this. And the fans have been asking. It's not like we went out there and thought, 'How can we sell this?' They've been asking for it. They still know all the words."

It's been 10 years since the two held their first reunion tour in 2000, and the two are ready to celebrate 25 years since they started.

Naomi is ready to celebrate the relationships and the connections with their fans -- old and new alike -- one last time. "There is nothing like music and laughter to connect people," she says. "How I've missed that encounter with the very ones who've allowed us that awesome privilege! I'm counting the days till I can be back on my bus, visiting their towns."

The Judds have also partnered with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No word on exactly how they will be featured, but the organization will be the topic of discussion in each interview and media round the two will do.

The mother-daughter duo has scored 14 No. 1 songs, won numerous awards and toured nationally and internationally before calling it quits in 1991 after Naomi was diagnosed with hepatitis.

The Judds - Last Encore Tour Dates:

11/26 -- Green Bay, Wis. -- Resch Center

11/27 -- Mt. Pleasant, Mich. -- Soaring Eagle Casino

11/28 -- Moline, Ill. -- i Wireless Center

11/30 -- Prior Lake, Minn. -- Mystic Lake Casino

12/2 -- Columbus, Ohio -- Schottenstein Center

12/3 -- Louisville, Ky. -- KFC Yum! Center

12/4 -- St. Charles, Mo. -- Family Arena

12/5 -- Council Bluffs, Iowa -- Mid-America Center

12/7 -- Colorado Springs, Colo. -- World Arena

12/8 -- Broomfield, Colo. -- ISTBank Center

12/9 -- Salt Lake City, Utah -- EnergySolutions Arena

12/11 -- Oakland, Calif. -- Oracle Arena

12/12 -- Sacramento, Calif. -- Arco Arena

12/15 -- Los Angeles, Calif. -- Nokia Theatre L.A. Live

12/16 -- Santa Ynez, Calif. -- Chumash Casino

12/17 -- Rancho Mirage, Calif. -- Agua Caliente Casino

12/18 -- Las Vegas, Nev. -- Mandalay Bay Events Center/Arena

12/19 -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- U.S. Airways Center