Ashley Judd has opened her heart about the poignant final moments of her beloved mother, Naomi Judd's, life. In "The Judd Family: Truth Be Told," a docuseries premiering on Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11, the actress poignantly reveals the contents of her last conversation with Naomi, who tragically took her own life at the age of 76 in April 2022.
On the morning of Naomi's passing, Ashley, now 57, received a haunting text message from her mother that simply read, "pls help." Rushing to her mother's home, Ashley found Naomi visibly distressed, physically restless in the kitchen, and voicing her desperate desire to escape her current reality.
Recalling the harrowing scene, Ashley shares in the docuseries how Naomi eventually found solace in their conversation, opening up about her enduring will to live despite her mental health battles. "Among the many things she articulated, she mentioned me. And I reassured her, 'You don't have to worry about me, Mom. I'm okay. I'm truly okay,'" Ashley says, emphasizing the profound impact her words had on Naomi.
Moments later, Naomi ascended the stairs, prompting Ashley to follow suit later. Calling out for her mother, Ashley grew concerned when there was no response. Making her way to Naomi's bedroom, she was confronted with a heart-wrenching sight.
"I saw that she had harmed herself," Ashley recounts with visible emotion. For the next half-hour, she cradled her mother in her arms, whispering words of comfort and love. "My first words to her were, 'It's okay, it's okay. I've seen how much you've been suffering.' We breathed in unison as I told her how deeply I loved her and that it was alright for her to let go," Ashley reflects.
As Naomi peacefully passed away, Ashley held her hand, kissed her soft, fragrant skin, and silently wished for her mother's guilt and shame to dissipate.
An autopsy report, released in August 2022 and obtained by the Associated Press, officially confirmed Naomi's death as a suicide, resulting from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in her Tennessee home on April 30, 2022.
"Our family has always been transparent about our joys and sorrows. A pivotal aspect of our story is the relentless struggle our matriarch faced," the Judd family stated to the AP. "She battled PTSD and bipolar disorder, conditions that millions of Americans can relate to."
Directed by Alexandra Dean, "The Judd Family: Truth Be Told" airs on Lifetime on May 10 and 11 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, offering a deeply personal and emotional glimpse into the Judd family's journey.
