Naomi Judd and Larry Strickland's marital journey was marked by numerous trials and tribulations. During the airing of "The Judd Family: Truth Be Told" on May 10 and 11, the country legend's widower candidly admitted that, upon discovering his infidelity, Judd once pointed a gun at him, then 79 years old. In a poignant voiceover from her 1993 memoir, "Love Can Build a Bridge," Judd described their love as "wild, mad, and passionate," yet her husband's constant absence gnawed at her heart.
She reminisced about a call from a woman in the Northeast to their Nashville home in the 1980s, expressing her deep love and longing for Strickland. Upon his return, Judd, in a fit of rage, shredded photographs of them and tossed his belongings into a garbage bag out in their yard. A tense moment in the documentary saw Strickland revisit a scene from the "Love Can Build a Bridge" TV movie, where Naomi's character, portrayed by Kathleen York, shoots Bruce Greenwood, who plays Strickland, upon discovering his betrayal.
Afterwards, Strickland solemnly reflected on that harrowing incident. "Well, it really happened," he said, his voice laden with regret. "That's all I can say. That's all I'm gonna say. It happened."
Judd and Strickland's love story began in 1979, culminating in their wedding vows a decade later in May 1989. They shared 33 years of marriage until Judd's untimely demise at 76 in April 2022. In a heartfelt interview with PEOPLE in December 2022, Strickland reflected on his tireless care for his late spouse.
"For the past 13 years or more, I was with her 24/7," he revealed. "I never left the house without Naomi knowing where I was going and when I would return. Taking care of myself wasn't much of a priority in such a situation. When your partner suffers from a mental illness, you walk that difficult path together."
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 viewers an intimate glimpse into the tumultuous yet deeply loving relationship of Naomi Judd and Larry Strickland.
