Ashley Judd Remembers Late Mom Naomi Judd On Her Birthday

Singer Naomi Judd, the mother of actress Ashley Judd and singer Wynonna Judd, sadly took her own life last year.

On Wednesday morning, Ashley took to Instagram to share a photo of a cake and celebrate her birthday with memories of her late mother.

On Wednesday, Ashley took to Instagram to share a photo of a cake and a lengthy tribute to her mother. "My birthday. Everyone who loves me is making it as soft (cake in bed) and precious as they can, as my mind can't help but calculate that on my last birthday, Mom was a scant 11 days from her death by crushing suicide," she wrote in the caption. "So it is my first without her. I think of her constantly. I am looking at my baby announcement & sitting with her tender joy in sharing about me."

"I am recalling her annual rite of recounting to me the day of my birth, all the details that were so precious to her," she continued. "During my birthday at some point she would glow, patting my arm, 'you were brown when you came out, surprised me so, and the sweetest, easiest baby.... how I loved you, I had to swat peoples` hands they wanted to touch you,' and patter on about my baby stories."

"I hope all parents do that for their children on their birthdays," Ashley wrote. "We celebrated so many together with my Chosen Family: picnics, running charades, Smoky Mountains, conversations about parenting ('when we know better, we do better') social issues, & laughter scatter like sunlight in my memory. Last year`s, as you might imagine, was more muted, being so close to her end."

"Pop and she came over with a roast chicken and cornbread, and we shared a small meal, the 3 of us," she explained. "Mom laid down a lot. We had cake and in spite of being weak and preoccupied with the disease that was eating at her, she had a gorgeous card for me and I knew, as ever, how much she loved me. I know that today, too, even as she breathes in the infinite mercy of God."

"Thank you, Mom, for all my birthdays so far, and for celebrating me: for holding me at bedtime and whispering in my ear, 'Ashley, you are an extraordinary woman,' and letting me be your Sweetpea. What more does a birthday girl need, than memories of a mother like that? And this is how she saw and loved me, first awake, hair never brushed, ready to share our dreams," she concluded. "For you, Mom. For you."

Many fans and famous friends took to the comments of her post to wish her a happy birthday. “Will & Grace” actress Debra Messing wrote, “Happy Birthday Ashley. It’s a hard one. I’m so sorry. She is with you, loving you.” Author Austin Channing Brown commented, “Sending you so much love.” Former World Cup alpine ski racer Lindsey Vonn added, “It’s moments like this that we reflect on our mothers most. Sending love.”

Earlier this month, Wynonna Judd and Ashley McBryde gave an emotional performance of "I Wanna Know What Love Is" in honor of her late mother. The 2022 CMT Awards marked Naomi's final public appearance before her sudden passing. During last year's ceremony, Naomi and Wynonna, who had performed together as the country music duo The Judds, performed their hit song "Love Can Build A Bridge."

Before her performance, Wynonna told Entertainment Tonight, "I'm going to use my time to talk to anyone out there who is struggling," adding, "It's an opportunity to help somebody."

Wynonna also said that it is a "bittersweet time" as the family celebrates milestones without their mother. In addition to Ashley's birthday, Naomi's granddaughter also celebrated her first birthday this month. "I've got both agony and ecstasy happening," Wynonna explained.