Naomi Judd's Former Husband Recalls Getting Shot At By The Late Star

Naomi Judd's former husband, Larry Strickland, is opening up about one of his most chilling experiences, revealing that she once fired a gun at him.     

Their complicated past did not stop there; in 2023, Naomi's ex-manager, Michael P. Dolan, sued her estate in Tennessee's Chancery Court, claiming unpaid commissions dating to 2000. 

Naomi Judd and Larry Strickland tied the knot on May 6, 1989, weathered a rocky relationship for 33 years, and stayed together until her untimely passing in April 2022 at age 76. 

Larry spoke out about a shocking moment from their past, confirming a violent incident Naomi recounted in her 1993 memoir "Love Can Build a Bridge."

In the upcoming two-part Lifetime docuseries, "The Judd Family: Truth Be Told," the late singer's widower reacted to a scene from a TV movie based on the memoir, where Naomi (played by Kathleen York) shoots Larry (played by Bruce Greenwood) after discovering his infidelity.

When asked about the scene, Larry responded simply, "Well, it really happened. That's all I can say. That's all I'm gonna say. It happened."

According to TMZ, the memoir painted a picture of a passionate but troubled relationship, where Naomi described their love as "wildly, madly, passionately" but acknowledged Larry's alleged infidelity.

In addition to leaving behind painful memories for her ex-husband, Naomi also left legal issues for her family to handle.

The late star's former manager, Michael P. Dolan, took legal action just days before the one-year anniversary of her death, filing a lawsuit against her estate over unpaid commissions. The legal documents, obtained by The Blast, reveal that Michael is claiming:

"He was owed a 6% gross revenue commission for my personal management and executive producer services rendered in connection with The Judds' Reunion' Power to Change' CBS special that was taped for broadcast on April 7, 2000, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky."

Michael's lawsuit references an agreement outlined in a "white paper summary" provided by Naomi's business manager, confirming the commission structure for the CBS special.

Despite his contributions as an executive producer, Michael says that his contract with the Judds was terminated in August 2000. He claims to have offered a resolution to settle the outstanding issues at that time, but Naomi and her team declined to buy out his rights or claims.

In his lawsuit, Michael admitted that he was paid a portion of the commission, totaling $33,750, but said he did not receive any further payments or royalties from the worldwide distribution and broadcast of the CBS special. Michael pressed for payment and an accounting of royalties related to the series, including:

"Those earned through the worldwide distribution, exploitation, display, broadcast, or streaming of the CBS Special and desire to obtain proper payment, compensation, royalty, or distribution for any such activities by [Naomi Judd] prior to her unfortunate death on April 30, 2022, or from her Estate as to any such future exploitations."

In his filing, he requested "that an accounting be performed to determine any and all monies or revenue that has been received from any exploitation of the CBS Special since August 14, 2000, and provided to me."

The Judd family faced legal drama just as Ashley marked her first birthday without her mother. The late 76-year-old's former manager filed the lawsuit a day before she turned 55. 

Ashley, meanwhile, took to Instagram to reflect on the emotional weight of the day. She shared a photo holding a birthday cake and wrote about how family and friends tried to make the occasion "soft," noting it fell just days before the anniversary of her mother's 2022 death. 

She remembered her mom's tradition of retelling childhood stories on her birthday, adding, "I hope all parents do that for their children on their birthdays." She continued:

"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."

The celebrant shared an emotional glimpse into their last celebration together before Naomi's passing. In the heartfelt post, Ashley said they shared a simple meal of roast chicken and cornbread and had cake, even though Naomi was already weakened by illness.

Despite her condition, she gave Ashley a thoughtful birthday card, reminding her how deeply she was loved. Ashley recalled the tenderness her mother always showed her, writing:

"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."

In conclusion, she wrote, "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. For you, Mom. For you."

Naomi Judd's legacy leaves a mix of tender memories and emotional scars.