In September 1985, a New York Times article bemoaned the decline of the established stars of country music and the cliched “Nashville Sound”, but help was already on the way. Why Not Me, the 1984 debut album by mother and daughter duo the Judds, had topped the US country chart, was racking up multimillion sales, and had delivered three No 1 country singles, Why Not Me, Girls’ Night Out and Love Is Alive.
With her daughter Wynonna, Naomi Judd, who has died aged 76 after suffering from depression and mental illness, was about to top the country chart again with the follow-up album, Rockin’ With the Rhythm. It would also generate three more chart-topping singles. To their amazement, the Judds found themselves nominated for best new artist at the 1985 Grammy awards, up against mainstream pop stars such as Cyndi Lauper and Frankie Goes to Hollywood.
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