CMT News

Judds Celebrity Show & Auction Huge Success

Yes, actress Ashley Judd made her singing debut and an enormous amount of money was raised for the Naomi Judd Research Fund for the American Liver Foundation. These highlights, plus back-to-back performances and appearances by such celebrities as Jo Dee Messina, Trace Adkins, Deryl Dodd, The Kinleys, The Wilkinsons, Gary Chapman, Lind Davis, Stella Parton, Tom Arnold, Jeff Foxworthy, Steven Seagal, Chely Wright, Troy Aikman and Tracy Lawrence turned the event into a complete evening of fun and success.

Downtown Nashville's famous Wildhorse Saloon resulted in a standing-room-only crowd as the second annual Judd Family and Friends Celebrity Auction got underway.

Sure enough, Ashley showcased her own Judd vocal ability when she joined her mom Naomi and sister Wynonna in an old gospel classic. "We learned this in the bathroom," quipped Naomi. With pleasant three-part harmony, Ashley actually led the number and did a nice job. Don't, however, count on Ashley trading her acting career for a singing career.

Having announced the details of her next major picture role, several of the auction's highest-bidding items were those involving the younger Judd's movie career. Naomi's long black mink coat, which Ashley wears in the new movie, sold for $1,500 and a day on the movie set with Ashley went for a whopping $6,500.

The public had the opportunity to bid on unique and one-of-a kind personal momentos donated by the Judd family as well as many other celebrity friends and industry peers. Other big ticket items ranged from tickets to the upcoming Bahama Country Bash cruise and stage costumes from Kathie Lee Gifford, Kenny Rogers and Kathy Mattea, to passes for The Tonight Show and the TNN/Music City News Country Awards, as well as "Spend the Day" packages with various celebrities. Other items were donated by well-knowns such as Oprah Winfrey, U2, ZZ Top, Morgan Freeman, Barry Manilow, Muhammad Ali, Whoopi Goldberg, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Diamond, Larry King, Jay Leno, Linda Ronstadt, Willard Scott, K.T. Oslin, Dolly Parton, Ronald Reagan, Tom Jones, Glen Campbell, Mel Tillis, Darrell Waltrip, Ray Stevens, Patty Loveless, Travis Tritt, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lorrie Morgan and many more.