Wynonna Judd
Genre: Country
Official Web Site
Wynonna Judd Bibliography: (click on each album cover to view tracks and Wynonna Judd lyrics)
Wynonna Judd Biography Wynonna first gained fame in 1984 as part of one of the most successful duos of all time, The Judds, and has been critically lauded as one of the finest vocalists of our time. The Judds celebrated amazing success in a short period of time, selling over 20 million albums and collecting over 60 prestigious industry awards. On top of that amazing feat, Wynonna holds multiple gold, platinum and multi-platinum certifications from the RIAA of over 9 million albums sold throughout her solo career. She has released over 42 commercial singles, celebrated 20 #1 hits and, in her 20th year in the music business, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums Chart with her most recent studio album, What the World Needs Now is Love.
In 2005, Wynonna shares her vocal talents and musical journey with the world on her new live album and first-ever DVD, Her Story: Scenes from a Lifetime (Curb Records) as well as her inspiring personal thoughts in her New York Times Best Selling memoir, Coming Home to Myself (Penguin Books). The highly-anticipated, simultaneous releases are a culmination of the rich tapestry of this amazing artist's legacy. The musical journey on two disc live CD and DVD spans twenty years of touring and connecting to the fans of all generations and lifetimes and includes her new single, "Attitude," which she wrote with John Rich. The powerhouse vocalist and comedic storyteller chronologically narrates the musical journey of her life and sings two decades of amazing hits and those songs which have inspired her. Her legions of fans will also enjoy never-before-seen special bonus features on the DVD that offer insight into this talented icon's creative vision and personal life as well as fun backstage antics with Wynonna. The best-selling autobiography weaves the emotional journey of her life in an unexpected story of survival, strength, hope and forgiveness, all the while filled with an exultant and empowering message certain to resonate with those who have dreamed of finding themselves and who only needed the courage and inspiration to begin their own journey.
The Judds became one of the most celebrated success stories in country music history. In just six short years, they had sold more than twenty million records worldwide and had won over sixty industry awards including five Grammys, nine Country Music Association Awards and eight Billboard Music Awards. In 1991, Naomi Judd retired from the singing duo because she had contracted chronic hepatitis during her earlier nursing career. At the dawn of the new millennium, The Judds reunited for a four-month triumphant tour in 2000, playing to over 250,000 people in some 36 shows. It was one of the Top 10 grossing country music tours of the year and two Judds' discs were released as well as a CBS television concert special to celebrate the reunited power of the duo. The duo was nominated for the prestigious Academy of Country Music's Top Vocal Duo of the Year in 2001, after a ten-year absence from the awards show circuit. In 2002, Wynonna and Naomi were named two of the "40 Greatest Women of Country Music" by CMT, landing at #11 on the coveted list. The Judds are universally loved and still regarded as country music royalty for music fans around the globe.
Wynonna began the second amazing success story of her life and signed her first solo record deal in 1992. With vast critical acclaim, Wynonna, selling over five million units, became the highest-selling debut album by a female artist at the time. A musical force like none other before her, Wynonna followed her wildly successful debut with the multi-platinum disc, Tell Me Why, as well as with the platinum-certified Revelations. Her greatest hits compilation, Collection, was released in 1997, the year which also found her gold record, The Other Side, flying from the shelves. Wynonna burst into 2000 with a torrent of unleashed creativity that is expressed on New Day Dawning, her fifth solo outing which she also produced. Wynonna released her sixth solo studio album, What the World Needs Now Is Love, on Curb Records in 2003. The album debuted impressively at #1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, her third solo project to do so, stretching her career into its third decade! For the first time in her illustrious career, Wynonna enjoyed a certified smash at Adult-Contemporary radio. "I Want to Know What Love Is" was her most successful outing on the Adult Contemporary Charts ever where it was a Top 12 A/C hit in 2004. The remix version picked up incredible national airplay around the country at Dance/Rhythmic powerhouse stations in New York, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix as well as becoming a certified huge dance hit in London, Brazil and The Netherlands. It was also #12 on the Billboard Dance Charts in the United States in 2004. Wynonna says about the new music, "With 'I Want to Know What Love Is' I asked the best guitar player in the world (Jeff Beck) to accompany me on one of the most moving and powerful songs I have ever recorded. And it just works!" The first single from the album, "What the World Needs," was a Top 15 hit at country radio and was honored by Radio and Records Magazine as the most added country single of the year in 2003. Billboard raved about Wy, "She unleashes those signature pipes on this positive anthem; a fine single from one of the format's most distinctive talents." Radio and Records had this to say, "Here comes the coolest chick on the block armed with one of the best songs of the year. She can outsing just about anyone. 'What the World Needs' is truly a worthy spotlight from one of the best vocalists we've ever had in this format."
Wynonna is currently the US Ambassador for YouthAIDS and was recently presented with the USO Merit Award for outstanding contributions to the United States Armed Forces in 2005. In 2004, she was the recipient of the Connie B. Gay Award, one of the most prestigious awards presented by the Country Music Association. Wynonna was nominated for the 2003 Academy of Country Music's Humanitarian of the Year Award and in the last two years alone, Wynonna has single-handedly raised over $2 million for charity. Wynonna is active with the American Red Cross, having organized three blood drives in the last three years; MusiCares, at whose Person of the Year galas she has performed in 2004 in honor of Sting and in 2003 in honor of Bono and has served on the Board of Governors; The Oasis Center in Nashville where she serves as mentor and friend to children in need and headlines their annual tastemaker event, Divas Nashvegas; and St. Jude Children's Hospital, where she served as Keynote Speaker for the Country Cares Seminar in 2003. She also makes numerous trips to Ft. Campbell each year to honor our service men and women with the Vice Chief of Staff for the US Army, Richard Cody. She recently joined forces with Michael McDonald and Eric Benet to record, "The Heart of America," which will benefit Habitat for Humanity in their efforts to provide assistance for Gulf-Coast families devastated by the recent hurricanes.
In 2005, Wynonna made her comedic television debut on ABC's hit series, Hope and Faith, and performed at the Apollo Theatre with Wynton Marsalis to rave reviews. She graced the covers of Good Housekeeping in September 2005 and September 2004 and was featured on the cover of Ladies Home Journal (February 2005) with her sister, Ashley Judd. She was the Grand Marshall for the Indy 500 in 2003, the first country artist to have ever served in that capacity. She has been featured in a dozen major motion picture soundtracks including Lilo and Stitch, Someone Like You and The Prince of Egypt. She was the national celebrity spokesperson for the Kmart Corporation in 2000. Wynonna made her acting debut in 1998 on the smash hit CBS show, Touched by an Angel, and returned to the series two additional times to amazing ratings and fan reaction. She is currently on a cross country journey singing with the most esteemed symphony companies in the United States in 2005 and 2006.
Beyond the amazing legacy of this artist's lifetime, this celebrated vocalist is respected by the millions of fans who are drawn to her music and to her story. Wynonna's luminous career has certainly grown to levels once thought unimaginable as she takes each of us along with her. Her Cinderella, rags-to-riches message is one which resonates with success, struggle and survival. And, it's only the beginning: innovative, inspired and imaginative, this phenomenal twenty-year veteran is about to change the rules all over again. As her new song, Attitude, recommends "you can choose to win or lose, it's all up to you!"
Wynonna's celebratory victory lap in 2005 continued to shake up the musical landscape as she blasts into her third decade of consummate victory!
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