LEXINGTON, Ky. — County artist Naomi Judd died Saturday, at 76. Leaving an impact on many around the state with her musical talents.
Karl Shannon has read a book given to him by Naomi Judd a thousand times.
“She thought enough of me to do this for me. But she would do that for a stranger if she wanted to. She was just that kind of a person,” Shannon said.
A friendship Shannon says he’ll never forget.
“I met Naomi in the mid-80s after they had their first number one ‘Mama, She’s Crazy,’” Shannon said.
Shannon has been in radio for nearly 50 years, and has interacted daily with different country artists, but nothing compares to the friendship he created with Naomi Judd.
“We’re talking backstage and she said, ‘You look a little down.’ and I said, ‘Well, my mom is probably only got a couple of months left she’s got cancer and they gave her six months and it’s been like two or three now,’” Shannon said.
Shannon says Judd gave him a night light with a guardian angel, a gift to his mom before she passed away in 1993. Giving a new meaning to Judd’s song, “Guardian Angel.”
“We have a special relationship. And she kind of adopted me after my mom passed away as a second mom and the weird part is she’s only a few years older than me. And she was just an amazing human being,” Shannon said.
Naomi Judd was from Ashland, Kentucky and passed away on April 30, a day before being she and her Daughter Wynonna were inducted into the Country Music Hall of Game.
“She was just a wonderful person. You couldn’t ask for a nicer friend. She was genuine, she cared about people, she loved meeting people. I mean, she was such a fan of her fans and appreciative,” Shannon said.
Shannon says the friendship developed from their love of music and Kentucky. Memories he will cherish for the rest of his life.