Larry Strickland’s Journey: Of Love, Loss, and Life After Naomi Judd
Larry Strickland wasn’t just Naomi Judd’s husband—he was her caretaker, singing partner, and stability who guided her through a lifetime of personal and public turmoil. This article examines the ups and downs of their relationship, the betrayals and emotional caregiving, and how he still lives life after her sudden, tragic death in 2022.
It matters because his story teaches us about the deep wounds of mental illness, the power of love, and the sometimes agonizing road to recovery. Through new initiatives and public candor, Larry’s life now serves as a kind of instruction on grief, support, and the meaning of legacy.
Music And Trials Cement A Love
Larry Strickland and Naomi Judd: The musicians met in 1979. He was a gospel singer who sang backup for Elvis Presley. She was a nurse in Nashville. Their bond was immediate, and despite some dramatic starts—a long tour schedule and Larry’s early infidelity—they would remain a couple. In 1989, they married.
Naomi referred to Larry as her “rock.” He was no longer just a husband. He was the manager for her career and a father figure to her two daughters, Wynonna and Ashley. Their romance survived the weight of their celebrity, health problems, and personal challenges.
A Brutal Inflection Point: Betrayal And Anger
Their love was not free from serious hurdles. In the ’80s, Naomi found out about Larry’s affair. She was heartbroken. She once took hold of a gun and shot at him. Years later, Larry would confirm the incident, insisting, “It happened.”
He didn’t share more. The moment was re-enacted in Naomi’s TV movie “Love Can Build a Bridge,” which moved the audience. Despite such betrayal, Naomi and Larry decided to remain together. They salvaged their marriage, but there was lingering pain beneath the surface.
Life As A Caregiver: Larry’s Last Years With Naomi
As Naomi’s mental health deteriorated, Larry became her caretaker. She struggled with severe depression and anxiety. Larry remained at home to take care of her, giving her medication and urging her to eat and stay active. But it wasn’t easy.
Naomi could spend hours lying prone under a blanket. Larry would say later that he wished he had been more gentle. He wanted to support him, but he didn’t know how. He saw her deteriorate emotionally in the months before she died by suicide in 2022.
Naomi’s Last Day And The Fallout
Naomi Judd took her own life on April 30, 2022, a mere day before she was scheduled to become an inductee of the Country Music Hall of Fame. It was her daughter, Ashley, who discovered her. Larry said years later, those final days: “It was chaotic, it was hard. He was scared that Naomi was traveling now that she was delicate.
He was bereft and overcome by grief and, in some way, guilt-stricken after her death. He moved out of their home in Nashville. The memories were too much. Three years later, they moved to Florida near the beach, which they used to enjoy visiting together.
Back to Music, And Naomi
Slowly, Larry started to get back into music, despite the heartbreak. In 2023, he recorded “If I Could Talk to Elvis” with singer Jillian Cardarelli. The song was cathartic, and the experience was restorative.” It was his comeback after years out of the studio.
He, too, sang with Wynonna Judd on a tribute to Loretta Lynn. I remember music making him feel comforted and connected. And his years on the road with Elvis and his time with Naomi made for deep roots in country and gospel, a legacy for which he is still remembered.
Public Mourning And The Mental Health Movement
Larry grew more willing to acknowledge mental health after the death of Naomi. ACM’s digital series “Lifting Lives Presents: The Check-In” had him on to discuss caregiving and grief. And he emphasized the need for honest conversations.
The death of Naomi and his travels in caring for her taught him how little people can counter depression. He’s become a quiet voice for change, explaining to others the suffering behind closed doors, out of public view. His message is straightforward: support, don’t push; listen, don’t assume.
An Awkward Love: Naomi Judd And Larry Strickland
Both members of Naomi Judd and Larry Strickland pop Margolis Getty Images It’s no secret that The Judds’ Naomi Claire Days after confessing that “I believed we were to end up being used to do new music together,” she ever personally dated a member of the opposite sex again because “I would stinking end this charming show rather than continue to work all my adult life The Judds’ manager Naomi Judd is lifted by Larry Strickland who has shared that learning of his birth family his last session with a man had my hand on his leg and his wife (see previous is dating sex | Naomi wildly adoring his A source close to the family just revealed that There had been rumors whirling — Naomi and Larry Judd was also very, very open about her sexuality.
Naomi and Larry’s relationship defined the Judd family. They also shared conflicting feelings about their mother, Wynonna, and Ashley. The two were playing together in a new country act called the Judds, and while they were finding plenty to argue over in their personal lives, their music continued to keep them together.
Ashley, too, spoke of the “constellation of sufferings” her mother bore. For all the hurt and chaos, they loved each other so much. Larry was part of that mix —stable some days, off some days, always there.
Family And Time Become Part Of The Healing
Now, Larry is surrounded by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Family has helped him heal. In his stories and music, he keeps Naomi’s memory alive. He thinks she’s still with him — in the wind at the beach, in songs, in silence. It is a trip of atonement, contemplation, and endurance. He’s not trying to forget Naomi — he’s determining how he carries her gracefully.
FAQs
What was the beef between Naomi Judd and Larry Strickland?
Larry fessed up to cheating in the early days of their love affair. He was devastated, and at one point, she shot a gun at him, he says.
How did Naomi Judd die?
She committed suicide on April 30, 2022, from a gunshot wound.
Larry Strickland – where is he now?
He relocated to Florida in 2023 and is still working musically and as a mental health advocate.
Was Larry Strickland with Elvis Presley?
Yes. He was a member of the Stamps Quartet and appeared in more than 200 shows with Elvis in the 1970s.
Is Larry Strickland still singing?
Yes. In 2023, he wrote a new song and played at tribute events with other country acts.
Final Words
Larry Strickland’s tale is one of lost love, profound grief, and learning to survive. He experienced fame, betrayal, and unbearable loss. Through it all, he has found a way to illustrate that healing can happen—even when the past still stings.
By speaking openly about grief and mental health, and moving ahead with his music, Larry is also, in essence, paying homage to Naomi Judd as he quietly leaves his path forward. His voice, formerly background harmony, now leads with truth and resilience.
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