R.I.P.: Naomi Judd, Matriarch of Country Music's The Judds

Naomi Judd

Grammy-winning country vocalist Naomi Judd -- the matronly half-of mother-daughter duo The Judds, has died at 76. 

Judds' daughters Wynonna and Ashley announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press.

Wynona and Naomi Judd arrive for the CMT Music Awards at Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, April 11, 2022.

"Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness. We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.

The Judds were to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame on Sunday.

The duo achieved 14 No. 1 over three decades, splitting as a performing act in 1991 after doctors diagnosed Naomi Judd with hepatitis.

Between 1984 and 1991, the Judds achieved twenty Top Ten hits, including fourteen number-one singles. As well, they also tallied five Grammys, nine CMA Awards, and seven ACM Awards.

Since arriving in Music City in 1979, Naomi Judd -- and her family -- were foundational staples of country music's continued pop evolution through the 1980s and beyond.