Wynonna Judd Says Being Unique Is One of Her Goals

Wynonna Judd became famous as one-half of the duo the Judds, along with her mother Naomi Judd, who taught her daughter that being successful in the music business often means getting over your fear of taking risks.

"I go through this panic sometimes of, 'Oh my gosh.' My perfectionism shows up in those moments. I was taught to be a champion. I was raised to be not only a risk taker, but a pioneer, if you will. I’ve always had the desire to be unique," Wynonna Judd tells CMT. "My mom taught me to not just be the best, but ‘be unique’ was a huge lesson I learned from her. I mean, the Judds came out during a time when we could not have been more different than what was taking place in the music business at the time. It was just a guitar and two vocals, and I think people were curious to know, 'Wait a second, what are you guys doing?'”

But even though she was raised to cherish the unique, that doesn't mean that getting out on stage is always easy for the singer, who says that she maintains a pre-show routine to help her deal with nerves.

"Before I launch, I usually go through a series of events. I have a pre-show workout, both spiritually and emotionally. I go through a process, like anyone else. I do the affirmations -- 'I’m a winner,' 'I have strong, white teeth ...'" she says with a laugh. "It’s a series of thoughts, and sometimes when I’m walking to stage, all of a sudden it hits me. 'Wait a second. What are you doing? You’re crazy. I’m going to walk out onstage and just stand there and sing a cappella? Wait, why did I do this?'"

Despite her nerves, Judd is still open to taking risks and accepting any opportunity to do something that's new to her.

"The other day, someone asked me what I’d like to do that I haven’t done. I said 'brain surgery,' and they thought I was being serious. I said, 'You don’t understand, I’m likely to do anything because I have no fear,'" she says. "I don’t know if it’s a combination of having so much experience and being 50. You get to a place in your life where you go, 'You know what? I’m going to get into ... wrestling.'

"What’s next for me is everything," Judd adds. "If I get asked again to sing with Phish, I’ll fly in and do that ... I am literally waiting for the phone to ring, so when people ask me what I’m doing, I have already prayed the prayer of 'OK, God, I don’t want you to just bless what I’m doing. I want to do what you’re blessing.' I’m telling you, when I do that, and go on faith, you’d be surprised at the phone calls I get."

Judd will wrap up her Wynonna and Friends: Stories & Song Tour on March 8. On March 20, she'll make an appearance at SXSW 2015.

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