The Judds: The Final Tour has been extended into 2023 with the announcement of 15 additional dates, stretching from Jan. 26. to Feb. 25. Tickets for the new gigs go on sale via the Hall of Fame duo's website on Fri., Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. local time.
"The decision to add 15 more shows was a no-brainer for me," Wynonna shared in a press release. "The fans have been such a gift during my time of grieving and honoring my mother in song. What an amazing season this is. I look so forward to continuing the celebration of the music that has changed my life forever. In my 39 years of performing, these shows have truly been some of my absolute favorite experiences ever and I look forward to making new memories with the fans and guest artists in 2023."
Wynonna is currently honoring fall tour dates she had planned to go on with her mother, the late Naomi Judd. Wynonna made the announcement during Naomi Judd: A River of Time Celebration, which was held at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on May 15.
"The show must go on, as hard as it may be, and we will show up together, and you will carry me as you've carried me for 38 years," Wynonna said, referencing support from the fans. "I didn't know if I could go on without her. Life is so strange. It's so devastatingly beautiful what happened here tonight so we will continue. That's what she would want, right?"
The Judds initially announced the 10-date string of arena gigs billed as The Final Tour on April 11. Naomi and Wynonna Judd were set to be joined by special guest Martina McBride.
A selection of additional special guests will appear with Wynonna at each tour stop, including Brandi Carlile, Little Big Town, Ashley McBryde and Trisha Yearwood. On Sept. 8, Kelsea Ballerini was added to the Final Tour lineup.
On April 11, The Judds performed on an awards show broadcast for the first time in over two decades. A rendition of "Love Can Build a Bridge," introduced by Kacey Musgraves, aired during the CMT Music Awards. It would be the duo's final public performance.
The Kentucky-formed act's original Farewell Tour took place in 1991. Its final date, held Dec. 4 at the Murphy Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn., was filmed for TV special The Judds: Their Final Concert. On Oct. 17, 1990, Naomi announced her forthcoming retirement at age 44 due to a Hepatitis C diagnosis.
Naomi and Wynonna hit the road twice since then: the Power to Change Tour in 2000 and the Last Encore Tour in 2010. In addition, the duo reunited in 2015 for Girls Night Out, a nine-show Las Vegas residency.
The Judds' The Final Tour Dates
Sept. 30 — Grand Rapids, Mich. (Van Andel Arena)
Oct. 1 — Toledo, Ohio (Huntington Center)
Oct. 7 — Sioux Falls, SD (Denny Sanford Premier Center)
Oct. 8 — Green Bay, Wisc. (Resch Center)
Oct. 14 — Duluth, Ga. (Gas South Arena)
Oct. 15 — Huntsville, Ala. (Propst Arena @ The Von Braun Center)
Oct. 21 — Durant, Okla. (Choctaw Grand Theater)
Oct. 22 — Ft. Worth, Texas (Dickies Arena)
Oct. 27 — Biloxi, Miss. (Mississippi Coast Coliseum)
Oct. 28 — Nashville, Tenn. (Bridgestone Arena)
Oct. 29 — Lexington, Kent. (Rupp Arena)
Jan. 26 — Hershey, Penn.
Jan. 28 — Bridgeport, Conn.
Jan. 29 — Worcester, Mass.
Feb. 2 — Tulsa, Okla.
Feb. 3 — Kansas City, Mo.
Feb. 9 — Omaha, Neb.
Feb. 10 — Moline, Ill.
Feb. 11 — Dayton, Ohio
Feb. 16 — Greenville, S.C.
Feb. 17 — Fairfax, Va.
Feb. 18 — Charleston, W.V.
Feb. 23 — Savannah, Ga.
Feb. 24 — Tampa, Fla.
Feb. 25 — Hollywood, Fla.
"Coal Miner's Daughter"
The Judds Final Tour returned on Oct. 7 in Sioux Falls, S.D., which fell three days after the death of Loretta Lynn. To celebrate her musical forbear's life and lyrics, Wynonna sang one of Lynn's signature songs with tour mates Ashley McBryde and Martina McBride.
Naturally, the makeshift trio delivered a powerful performance while swapping Lynn's familiar verses about her climb from Butcher Hollow, Kent. to the big time. As the performance reached its end, Wynonna said that "we mustn't forget where we come from in country music"— a spirit already captured in a tour that honors the late Naomi Judd.
"Love Can Build a Bridge"
Wynonna began the tour on Sept. 30 in Grand Rapids, Mich. along with Brandi Carlile. Fan footage captures Wynonna's show-closing and gospel-inspired rendition of "Love Can Build a Bridge."
"Thank you, Mama, for writing this song," Wynonna said during her emotional performance. "I'll continue to sing it for all the days of my life."
Such an amazing night!! I hope everyone is reminded of how amazing The Judds legacy was and also how amazing Wynonna Judd is!! @Wynonna She is a force of nature with a voice to move mountains!! ?? pic.twitter.com/T9btALP3zH
— Katie Gardner aka RealRebaLove (@realrebalove) October 1, 2022
Wynonna and Ashley Judd Share Stories About Their Late Mother
During a The Judds' Final Tour stop on Oct. 1 in Toledo, Ohio, Wynonna surprised her captive audience by bringing sister Ashley Judd onstage.
Ashley told the crowd that it's good to share the spotlight with Wynonna, whom she referred to as "the G.O.A.T., the greatest of all time." The siblings then revealed that they'd just been swapping stories about childhoods spent on a tour bus with their late mother, Naomi Judd.
After Wynonna said that the family spent years "[living] in the back of a U-Haul trailer," Ashley reminisced about their mother's hospitality.
"It meant so much to her when we got together as a family to have supper, and she always had colorful salt and pepper shakers at every place setting," Ashley explained. "Someone in the family just got salt and pepper shaker tattoos to remember that. She always had everybody's favorite beverage set out at their place setting. She wanted everything to be just right and perfect."
Beforehand, Wynonna addressed past rumors of family drama.
"I'll tell you one dang thing," Wynonna said. "I'm so sick and tired of the press saying a bunch of crap about us. We love each other."
Ashley closed the video below with words of encouragement for anyone facing a mental health crisis.
"We just wanted to remind everybody that we don't have to be alone. If you're hurting, you can always call 988," Ashley said. "We might feel like we're alone, but we're in community like we are tonight."
