Country Champion Wynonna Judd Delivers Powerful Speech At People’s Choice Country Awards

Wynonna Judd received the Country Champion Award during the inaugural People’s Choice Country Awards and delivered an inspiring speech from the stage of the Grand Ole Opry in honor of the occasion. 

John and TJ Osborne of Brothers Osborne were on hand to present Wynonna with the award, which celebrates her “decades-long career and heroic efforts around philanthropy and activism.”

Brothers Osborne Presents

The award-winning duo shared, “We know her as one of the greatest artists in country music history and her legend reaches far beyond her chart-topping hits. She’s an artist, activist, philanthropist, champion. Her spirit, her soul and her strength are an inspiration, the definition of a she-ro. She’s about to kick off her Back to Wy Tour featuring songs from her first two blockbuster solo albums…It’s our honor to present the country champion award to Wynonna.”

Wynonna reflected on her humble beginnings as the audience watched on in awe. 

“I graduated high school in 1982. In 1983, I got a record deal with RCA Records and I got on a Silver Eagle bus with my mama and did her hair every night for 10 years for free. It started there. Of course, 10 years later, she would have to retire and I would go on to make country music ‘her-story.’ And thanks to the fans, I didn’t give up then, I would have another 10 years, a second career.”

Acceptance Speech

She went on to openly discuss the loss of her mother in April 2022, which shook the lives of their family and the country music community. 

“Then on [April] the 30th of last year, my mother committed suicide. I went to her house and she died there, but we followed the ambulance anyway to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. I walked into the room and I held her in my arms and I kissed her on the forehead, shut her eyes, and said, ‘I love you, mom.’ I walked out of that room, went home, got up the next morning and showed up at the Country Music Hall of Fame to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” Wynonna recalled. 

Inspiring Speech

“You know why? Because that’s how much we love music. Regardless of what has happened to me and who, I show up and I show out.” 

After paying tribute to her loved ones, the “Why Not Me” singer closed her speech with a message to the dreamers. 

“Let me tell you something, it’s getting harder and harder out there. Never give up on your dreams. And for half of y’all in this place tonight, I know you don’t know who I am or you were not born when I had my years of being fabulous, and I’ll let that go, but back in 1990…Tim McGraw opened for me. Four weeks ago, I opened for Tim,” she said. “The highs are high and the lows are low, baby. But don’t ever let them tell you who you are.” 

Wynonna Judd then performed her hits “I Saw the Light” and “No One Else on Earth.”

Performance

People’s Choice Country Awards

The first-ever People’s Choice Country Awards took place at the iconic Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday (Sept. 28).

Throughout the show, awards for 12 categories were given out, including People’s Artist of 2023, Male Artist of 2023, Female Artist of 2023, Group/Duo of 2023, New Artist of 2023, Social Country Star of 2023, Song of 2023, Collaboration Song of 2023, Crossover Song of 2023, Album of 2023, Music Video of 2023 and Concert Tour of 2023.

Toby Keith was honored with the Country Icon Award, which was presented to him by Blake Shelton. 

The coveted awards show also featured performances from Blake Shelton, Carly Pearce, Dan + Shay, HARDY, Jelly Roll, Kane Brown, Kelsea Ballerini, Little Big Town, Toby Keith, Wynonna Judd and more.

Adam Doleac, Blake Shelton, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Chris Young, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Hunter Hayes, Jessie James Decker, Josh Ross, Kameron Marlowe, Kristin Cavallari, Lady A, Lauren Alaina, Leanne Morgan, Mickey Guyton, Nikki Garcia, Scotty McCreery and The War And Treaty were also on hand to present.

Little Big Town was the host of the show. “We are honored to host the inaugural ‘People’s Choice Country Awards,’ especially on one of our most beloved stages in the entire world,” the group previously shared in a press release. “We look forward to welcoming so many of our talented peers to take the Opry stage for this magical night of music.”

The 2023 People’s Choice Country Awards’ aired live on NBC and Peacock on September 28 at 8/7c simultaneously on NBC and Peacock.

The livestream also aired on Peacock, PCA Twitter, NBC Twitter/Facebook/YouTube, TODAY All Day/Twitter, E! News Twitter/Facebook/YouTube/E!Online, Access Twitter/YouTube, and Circle TV Network and Circle social platforms, featuring red carpet arrivals, backstage chats and more.