The Judd family on Friday filed a court petition attempting to prevent documents related to country music legend Naomi Judd‘s death from being made public. Judd died in April, reportedly by suicide, at age 76.
The petition revealed new details into the late star’s death, including how her daughter, actress Ashely Judd, found her mother alive after the Grammy-winning singer shot herself. Ashley Judd was with her mother for some 30 minutes before help arrived, according to a report from The Tennessean.
“She obviously was suffering, and, as such, her days up until that moment were hurtful to her,” Ashley Judd said during an appearance on “Good Morning America” following her mother’s death.
The petition was filed by Judd’s daughters, Ashley and Wynonna Judd, and husband Larry Strickland, whom Naomi Judd wed in 1989.
The petition says the release of video and audio interviews related to the death investigation would cause “significant trauma and irreparable harm.” The family is also seeking to keep personal medical information and police reports private, The Tennessean noted.
“I think Naomi Judd should be remembered for the way she lived and not in the matter in which she died,” the family said in their statements.
Namoi Judd’s death on April 30, notably one day before she was to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, shocked the music industry, The Daily Wire reported at the time.
“Mother used a firearm,” Ashley Judd revealed following the death. “That’s the piece of information that we are very uncomfortable sharing, but understand that we’re in a position that if we don’t say it, someone else is going to.”
“It was a mixed day,” the actress recalled. “I was at the house visiting, as I am every day, and mom said to me ‘will you stay with me?’ and I said: ‘Of course I will.’”
Ashely Judd briefly left to greet a family friend, she said, and upon returning discovered her mother. “I went upstairs to let her know that the friend was there and I discovered her,” she said. “I have both grief and trauma from discovering her.”
Referring to her mother’s struggle with mental illness, Ashely Judd added that her mom’s “brain hurt. It physically hurt.”
Notably, Naomi Judd left complete control of her estate and fortune, believed to be worth $25 million, to Strickland, earmarking nothing for her two daughters, The Daily Wire reported.
The “Why Not Me” singer reportedly made no mention of her famous daughters in the will, and it’s unknown if Naomi Judd instructed Strickland to divide her assets.
Katie Jerkovich contributed to this report
The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free hotline for individuals in crisis or distress or for those looking to help someone else. It is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-8255.