Wynonna Judd received the Country Champion Award at the People’s Choice Country Awards, but she also took the stage to perform some of her hits. The 59-year-old ran through two of her biggest singles as a solo artist, both “I Saw the Light,” “No One Else on Earth,” ahead of her heartfelt speech.

Judd also reflected on her legacy in country music, after receiving the Country Champion trophy from Brothers Osborne, both as a solo artist and part of  The Judds with her mother, Naomi Judd.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYkIwFfRLvY

“I graduated high school in 1982. In 1983, I got a record deal with RCA Records,” Judd said, “I got on a Silver Eagle bus with my mama, and did her hair every night for ten years, for free. It started there. Of course, ten years later, she would have to retire, and I would go on to make country music herstory. And thanks to the fans, I didn’t give up then. I would have another ten years, a second career, and then on [April] 30th of last year, my mother committed suicide.”

Judd recalled the heartbreaking final moments with Naomi Judd, who tragically committed suicide one day before the award-winning duo was to become the newest members of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

“I went to her house, and she died there, but we followed the ambulance anyway, to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead,” she recalled. “I walked into the room, and I held her in my arms, I kissed her on the forehead, shut her eyes and said, ‘I love you, Mom.’ I walked out of that room, went home and showed up the next morning at the Country Music Hall of Fame, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. “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,” she remarked. “I looked up the word ‘champion’ today, and it says, ‘to do battle for other’s honor,’ and that is exactly what I’m going to do tomorrow, when I get on a commercial flight and fly to Denver to do one more show, because I can’t get enough of you.”

The A Tribute To The Judds album, featuring Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll, Dolly Parton, Lainey Wilson, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Ashley McBryde, Gabby Barrett, Jamey Johnson, Carly Pearce, Cody Johnson and more will be released on October 27, on BMG. “I Cry Myself to Sleep,” featuring Judd and Yearwood, is out now.