The Judds Get Ready for Their Last Encore
Almost two decades after the Judds -- mom Naomi Judd and daughter Wynonna -- ended their award-winning career as a duo, the two are heading back into the spotlight again. Working on a new album, plus kicking off their Last Encore tour, they are eager to begin a new chapter in their lives.
"We're doing business differently than we've ever done," Wynonna tells ABC's 'Good Morning America.' "New music, new attitude, new boundaries, new relationship, new way of doing business with our family. We're sort of a work-in-progress. We're the poster family for healing through music. The fans have given us this chance to celebrate 18-20 shows in front of a live audience, which is a little scary."
The duo, who have been very public about their personal struggles both on and off stage, say they are both in a healthy place now. "We're new and improved, thanks to our therapist, who said that we can do this tour because we're OK to go out in public unsupervised now," Naomi jokes. "We always have been transparent."
This time, they are also equally determined to use their famous name for something positive. "We're working with St. Jude. It's a win-win," Wynonna explains of the decision to help out the world-renowned children's hospital. "After 25 years, you've got to have a purpose past having a famous name, which is a great way to get a seat in a good restaurant in New York. After that, what do you do? So 25 years later, we want to celebrate with the fans."
The pair say the show will combine songs from the past, and introduce fans to their recent, as-yet-unheard work, too. "The truth of the matter is, we've got new material, but we'll be doing the classics," Wynonna explains. "The stuff you got married to -- or divorced to -- but we'll also have new stuff."
Wynonna released her own CD, 'Love Heals,' exclusively to Cracker Barrel stores earlier this year. And according to the Kentucky native, it's a perfect fit. "I like to team up with champions," she says. "The people at the Cracker Barrel corporation love me and I love them. It's a general store. It's southern. You have the food you grew up on. I think it's important to have music with your gravy."
The tour kicks off the day after Thanksgiving (November 26) -- when folks who've had enough gravy might be in need of music, instead -- and Naomi says the show will be a great diversion from the ensuing holiday frenzy. "If you're tired of your family, come see us," Naomi deadpans. "We'll make your family seem like royalty."
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