Ashley and Wynonna Judd announced today that their mother, Naomi passed away today at the age of 76. “Today, we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness. We are shattered. We are navigating profound grief and know that as we loved her, she was loved by her public. We are in unknown territory.”
2022 was supposed to be an excellent year for The Judds. Naomi and Wynonna were going to hit the road in September for a final tour. They recently reunited and played the CMT Awards, much delight to their fans. And tomorrow, they were going to be inducted into the County Music Hall of Fame.
In 2016, the singer released her book River of Time: My Descent into Depression and How I Emerged with Hope. Sometimes when a depressed person is full of so much hope and joy to look forward to, it has the opposite effect on them. I am not saying that is the case, but that was my first thought when I heard of her passing.
Depression is an evil thing that takes over everything, and it is impossible once again to get control of yourself. Even the happiest of things make you sad.
Hopefully, now Naomi is at peace and truly happy. My heart goes out to her husband, Larry Strickland, daughters, and grandchildren.
Gilbert Gottfried passed away from complications from muscular dystrophy at the age of 67. His family wrote, “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honor.”
Gottfried got his start on Saturday Night Live, but then he, literally, found his voice. Once he did, we knew we were never going to forget it. That is because his high-pitched, nasally voice penetrated every inch of your body when he told a joke.
That is why he was perfect for the voice of Iago the Parrot in<del datetime=”2022-04-12T20:11:47+00:00″> Aladin and the Aflac Duck. But he was also in front of the camera in productions like the Problem Child franchise, two Sharknados, and so much more.
Just like an earthquake, you always heard him before you felt him.
It is fitting that his last role was voicing Gd in Smiling Friends. Because now, he is making Gd smile.
Gottfried is survived by his wife Dara and their children, Lily Aster, 14, and Max Aaron, 12.
The Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins passed away yesterday at the age of 50. The band wrote, “The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins. His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever. Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time.”
Hawkins left Alanis Morissette’s touring group and joined the Foo Fighters in 1997 after getting a phone call from Dave Grohl. Grohl asked him if he knew of any drummers who would want the job, and Hawkins said he did. The rest is Rock’n’Roll history at its finest.
In 2006, he released a solo album as Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders. Along with his own work, he worked with Slash, The Beach Boys, Queen’s Brian May, Ozzy Osbourne, and so many other legends. Not only did he play with legends, but he also played the legend Iggy Pop in CGBG.
I saw him open for The Police with the Foo Fighters, so I was surprised to learn he was in a Police cover band called The Cops. I am sure over the next several weeks; we are going to learn more and more interesting things about him. And I am all for it.
Hawkins is survived by his wife Alison and their three children, Oliver, Annabelle, and Everleigh. My heart goes out to all of them through this difficult time.
Howard Hesseman passed away yesterday at the age of 81 due to complications from colon surgery he had last year, according to what his wife told The Hollywood Reporter.
Hesseman spent 50 years in front of the camera. During the first 10 years, he was working non-stop and had several smaller roles. However, in 1978, he was given his big break when he was cast as the Johnny Fever on WKRP in Cincinnati. He played the laid-back hippie DJ who loved playing the likes of Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd.
After that show ended, he got married to Anne Romano on One Day at a Time. Then he spent the next few years starring in some films like Police Academy 2: The First Assignment, Clue, and Heat. But in 1986, he returned to the small screen to star as a teacher to smart kids in Head of the Class. When he left that show, he returned to his musical roots in The New WKRP in Cincinnati. From that time on, he kept on working in movies and television shows until 2018.
Everything about him was memorable, so you always knew it was him when he appeared on the screen. So today, let’s light a joint and watch Hesseman in one of many, many roles. And let’s laugh with him so that our laughter will escort him up to heaven.
Louie Anderson passed away today at the agehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5Zn2Fv6n6Q of 68 from a short battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, according to AP.
Andrson started his career out doing standup. But he also had memorable roles in several movies like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and the Coming to America films.
However, his biggest success came from television. He had an animated show called Life with Louie that was loosely based on his childhood. He also hosted Family Feud for three years at the turn of the century.
His most significant role came towards the end of his life. That is when played Zach Galifianakis’ mon in Baskets. He was so believable in the role that he won an Emmy for it.
Today, let’s remember by laughing with him and watching his many standup performances.
